Islamabad/New Delhi, June 10: Amidst strained ties and continuing tensions, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to X and congratulated his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on winning a third term as the Prime Minister of India.
In his official X handle, the Pakistani PM extended his greetings and wrote: “Felicitations to @narendramodi on taking oath as the Prime Minister of India.”
Indian Prime Minister Modi responded with a courteous: “Thank you @cmshehbaz for your good wishes.”
Separately, former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PML-N chief extended warm felicitations to Prime Minister Narendra “Modi ji” on his re-election and called on both sides to “replace hate with hope and seize the opportunity to shape the destiny of the two billion people of South Asia”.
PM Modi thanked the former Pakistan PM for the wishes, and in a tactful, carefully worded reply, said that “the people of India have always stood for peace, security and progressive ideas”.
Sharif, who took over as president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz last month, posted on X:
“My warm felicitations to Modi Ji (@narendramodi) on assuming office for the third time. Your party’s success in recent elections reflects the confidence of the people in your leadership.
“Let us replace hate with hope and seize the oppurtunity to shape the destiny of the two billion people of South Asia.”
PM Modi, in his reply, posted:
“Appreciate your message @NawazSharifMNS. The people of India have always stood for peace, security and progressive ideas. Advancing the well-being and security of our people shall always remain our priority.”
Back in March when the PML-N won the elections in Pakistan’s National Assembly and Shehbaz Sharif took the oath for the second time as Prime Minister, PM Modi had extended similar greetings to his counterpart.
However, much political discontent continues to simmer across the border with social media being flooded with derogatory messages from Pakistani netizens, and false rhetoric being peddled by the country’s politicians.
The relations between India and Pakistan have been at an all-time low and remain frozen, particularly after issues such as Abrogation of Article 370, the Ram Mandir construction, the Uri Surgical Strike, Balakot Airstrike, implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, and National Register of Citizens, all of which Islamabad hasn’t taken in good stride.
While New Delhi has extended its wishes to maintain constructive and positive ties with Islamabad, the gesture has not been reciprocal as Pakistan Army continues to smuggle weapons and drugs across the J&K and Punjab border, and facilitate terror activities in Kashmir, all the while the country continues to peddle misinformation.
