NEW DELHI : External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today hoped that India will continue to have good relations with Pakistan if former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif comes to power after the general elections there.
“India welcomes whatever result that comes out of a democratic election. Our government has had relations with Nawaz Sharif. From Prime Minister’s side also congratulations will be offered to him,” Khurshid said.
“I hope we can continue to have good relations if he comes to power,” he said.
Sharif was today set for a third term as Pakistan’s Prime Minister as his PML-N party took a massive lead over its rivals in early poll results, making a remarkable comeback after having been toppled in a military coup in 1999 and sent into exile. He returned to Pakistan shortly before the 2008 polls and rebuilt his party.
However, as per Pakistan TV projections, no single party would win a simple majority of 172 seats in the 342-member National Assembly.
Sharif’s centre-right Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) was leading the race with 126 seats and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had 34.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said the people in India wanted a strong democracy and a stable democratic government in Pakistan.
“Those nations who believe in democracy want strong democratic and stable governments especially in neighbourhood countries. It is good for them as well as for us,” he said.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, “We believe if Nawaz Sharif comes to power in Pakistan, he will work for better ties with India.” (AGENCIES)
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