Imran Khan Responds to PM Narendra Modi, Invites For Dialogue to Resolve Disputes

New Delhi/Islamabad, July 31: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Monday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called him to express his good wishes. In his response to PM Modi's call, Khan, the apparent Prime Minister-designate of Pakistan, said the two countries should engage in dialogue to resolve disputes.

"Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman over his success in elections and extended his best wishes," Imran Khan's party said on Twitter. "Imran Khan said that disputes should be resolved through dialogue, and war and bloodshed cannot resolve disputes," it added.

Khan said the two countries should focus on a joint plan to eradicate poverty. Khan's response came after PM Modi spoke to him and called for peace and development in the South Asian neighbourhood. Khan, whose PTI emerged as the largest party in the country's general elections last week, will take oath as Prime Minister on August 11.

"Prime Minister spoke to Imran Khan, Chairperson of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and congratulated him for his party emerging as the largest political party in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the recently conducted general elections," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"Prime Minister expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan," the statement said, adding Modi "also reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood".

Khan said on Thursday that his government would seek good relations with India and would like leaders of the two countries to sit across the table and resolve all disputes, including the "core issue" of Kashmir.

Although the PTI has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly in the July 25 polls, it is short of numbers to form its government independently.

To meet the required number of votes, the PTI leadership has reportedly approached the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, the Grand Democratic Alliance, PML-Quaid and the Balochistan Awami Party, as well as Independents.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 31, 2018 09:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).