Pakistan PM-Elect Imran Khan Holds Courtesy Meet With Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria
The meeting come in the backdrop of Khan expressing his will to resume bilateral ties with India and de-escalate the tensions through dialogue.
Islamabad, Aug 10: Pakistan's Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan held a brief meeting today with the Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad, Ajay Bisaria, and his deputy JP Singh.
According to news agency ANI, Bisaria and Singh reached Khan's official quarters at 4:30 pm (local time) to hold a courtesy meeting. The two sides were expected to share formal greetings and skim through the framework of Indo-Pak diplomatic ties.
The meeting come in the backdrop of Khan expressing his will to resume bilateral ties with India and de-escalate the tensions through dialogue. The PM-in-waiting had also pitched for an increased trade with the arch-rival to benefit the business community on both the sides.
"I am that Pakistani who believes that economy in South Asia could improve only after trade between India and Pakistan receives a boost," Khan had said, further adding that he would take "two steps" towards India, if the "first step comes from New Delhi".
Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), emerged as the single-largest in the general elections held on July 25, winning 117 seats. PTI, however, fall 20 short of the majority-mark, which compelled it to take support from independents and smaller allies.
Following his victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled Khan and wished him for the electoral success.
Shortly after Modi's conversation with Khan on phone, speculations were rife that the latter would invite the Indian PM for his swearing-in. The PTI, however, decided to conduct a simple and austere swearing-in ceremony on August 11, with no foreign dignitaries being invited.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2018 06:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).