Islamabad, Aug 18: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who faced flak for his meeting with Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on the sidelines of Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony, said the military head told him that he "wants peace with India".

While addressing reporters in Islamabad, Sidhu said he would be appealing Indian the government to resume bilateral ties with Pakistan. "It is our duty that we go back and ask our government to take a step ahead. I hope if we take one step forward, people here will take two steps forward.

"Gen Bajwa sahab hugged me and said, 'We want peace'. So, let's swim in a blue ocean and shun red ocean. This is my dream," added Sidhu, who is also a cabinet minister in the Punjab government.

Gen Bajwa also told Sidhu that Pakistan is considering to open up the border route to Kartarpur, a holy destination for the Sikhs.

"Today morning, General Bajwa came to me and said we were thinking of opening Kartarpur route on 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev," Sidhu added.

Sidhu was the only Indian who attended the oath-taking ceremony of Khan. The former cricketer-turned-politician was invited by the newly elected Pakistan PM in his personal capacity, as they have a friendship which dates back to early 80s'.

Along with Sidhu, Khan had invited former Indian cricketers Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar as well. However, they were unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 18, 2018 05:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).