“Felicitations to Narendra Modi on taking oath as the prime minister of India,” he posted on X


Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday offered a brief congratulations to his counterpart Narendra Modi on his re-election in rival India, almost a week after the results came in.
“Felicitations to Narendra Modi on taking oath as the prime minister of India,” he posted on X, in the first official comments from Pakistan.
Modi was sworn in on Sunday at a ceremony attended by leaders from Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. However, China and Pakistan were not present.
PM Shehbaz’s brother and ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif attended the inauguration of Modi in 2014, a first in the history of the nuclear-armed nations.
But the neighbours currently have minimal relations and ties have worsened during a decade under Modi, who has ramped up his Hindu nationalist agenda.
Pakistan suspended bilateral trade and downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi in 2019, after Modi revoked the limited autonomy of Indian-held Kashmir in a move widely celebrated across India.
Pakistan’s recently elected premier has previously hinted at wanting to improve ties with India.
But analysts say Pakistan, a sixth of the size of India, has few levers to pull.
SOURCE: AFP

FY26: Punjab govt hikes salaries by 10pc, pensions up 5pc
- 9 hours ago

Gold price plummets in Pakistan
- 11 hours ago

Hockey Nations Cup: Pakistan beat Japan by 3-2
- 7 hours ago

The stunning reversal of humanity’s oldest bias
- 12 hours ago
Iran state TV attacked in latest wave of Israeli strikes on Tehran
- 7 hours ago

UAE announces 4-day work, 3-day off program for govt employees
- 13 hours ago

Foreign Ministry repatriates 268 Pakistanis from Iraq
- 7 hours ago
WhatsApp rolls out first major advertising features
- 9 hours ago

Will the US get drawn into the Israel-Iran war?
- 12 hours ago

SBP maintains key policy rate at 11pc
- 12 hours ago
Iran says it launched drone, missile attack targeting Israel
- an hour ago
Arshad Nadeem named in Forbes '30 Under 30' list for South Asia
- 11 hours ago