Imran Khan Thanks Navjot Singh Sidhu, Says 'Those Targetting Him in India Doing Great Disservice to Peace'
Imran Khan also reiterated that India and Pakistan must resolve conflicts which include Kashmir through dialogue.
Islamabad, Aug 21: Newly-elected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran on Tuesday thanked Punjab Minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for attending his swearing-in ceremony. Calling Sidhu an ambassador of peace, Imran Khan said 'those targetting him in India are doing a great disservice to peace'. He also reiterated that India and Pakistan must resolve conflicts which include Kashmir through dialogue.
"I want to thank Sidhu for coming to Pakistan for my oath taking. He was an ambassador of peace & was given amazing love & affection by ppl of Pakistan. Those in India who targeted him are doing a gt disservice to peace in the subcontinent - without peace, our ppl cannot progress," the cricketer-turned-politician tweeted.
"To move forward Pakistan and India must dialogue and resolve their conflicts incl Kashmir: The best way to alleviate poverty and uplift the people of the subcontinent is to resolve our differences through dialogue and start trading," Khan added. Sidhu has been facing heat for hugging Pakistan's Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and for sitting beside the President of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) at the swearing-in ceremony of Khan.
On Tuesday, Sidhu held a press conference and defended his visit to Pakistan. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and late Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited Pakistan and no one questioned their patriotism. He added that he went to Pakistan after getting all clearance from the Indian government and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj approved his visit.
"In the past also efforts for peace have been made. The late Vajpayee ji had taken 'Dosti bus' to Lahore and invited Pervez Musharraf. PM Modi invited Nawaz Sharif to his oath-taking ceremony. He also made a surprise visit to Lahore. Why wasn't his patriotism questioned?" Sidhu said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2018 03:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).