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Modi Congratulates New Pak PM, Says India Desires Terror-Free Region

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his newly-elected Pakistani counterpart Shahbaz Sharif on Monday, and said that India desired peace and stability in a region free of terrorism.

“Congratulations to H.E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. India desires peace and stability in a region free of terror, so that we can focus on our development challenges and ensure the well-being and prosperity of our people,” PM Modi tweeted.

Pakistan parliament, the National Assembly, on Monday elected Sharif unopposed as the 23rd premier of the Islamic nation, putting an end to the political instability caused by the ouster of his predecessor Imran Khan through a no-trust vote on March 8.

Sharif, who heads the Pakistan Muslim League (N), was endorsed by 174 lawmakers, two more than the required 172. He was a candidate of the Opposition parties. Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf boycotted the election in protest against Khan’s ouster.

After taking the oath of office, the 70-year-old leader thanked all Opposition parties for “standing up for the Constitution”.

In a tweet, he said, “Special thanks to media, civil society, lawyers, my Quaid Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, Bilawal Bhutto, Khalid Maqbool, Khalid Magsi, Mosin Dawar, Ali Wazir, Amir Haider Hoti & leaders & workers of all political parties for standing up for the Constitution.”

In his first address in the House as the Pakistan PM, Sharif, the younger brother of former PM Nawaz Sharif, said he wanted good relations with neighbour India.

“We want good ties with India but durable peace is not possible until the Kashmir dispute is resolved,” he said.

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