Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke to Imran Khan, who is set to become Pakistan's next prime minister, and hoped that democracy will take deeper roots in the country, reports NDTV. Modi congratulated the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader for his party emerging as the largest political party in the National Assembly in Pakistan. The prime minister expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan, a statement from his office said, reports NDTV. He also reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood, the statement said. Khan had said that he will take oath as the prime minister on August 11, according to a media report. His party announced on Monday that it has acquired enough seats in the lower house through coalition talks to form a majority government.<doc-sep>Khan suggests that the governments of Pakistan and India “should devise a joint strategy to free their people from the trap of poverty“. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Imran Khan, leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has emerged as the largest political party of Pakistan after the general election of July 25. “Prime Minister spoke to Mr Imran Khan, Chairperson of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party and congratulated him for his party emerging as the largest political party in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the recently conducted general elections,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement after Mr. Modi spoke to the victorious PTI leader. Then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Tehrik-e-Insaaf Party chief Imran Khan at an event in New Delhi on March 2, 2003. | Photo Credit: Rajeev Bhatt Mr. Modi’s greetings came a day after India welcomed the democratic process of Pakistan and conveyed desire for a prosperous and progressive Pakistan that would crack down on terrorism. “Prime Minister expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan. Prime Minister also reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood,” the MEA statement said. PTI adds: Khan thanks Modi The PTI said in a statement that Mr. Khan thanked Mr. Modi for his good wishes. “The solution to conflicts should be found through dialogue,” Mr. Khan was quoted as saying in the statement. Mr. Khan also suggested that the governments of Pakistan and India “should devise a joint strategy to free their people from the trap of poverty“. He also said that “war and bloodshed instead of resolving conflicts give birth to tragedies“. According to media reports, Mr. Khan had said he will take oath as the Prime Minister on August 11.<doc-sep>Imran Khan says he will take oath as Pakistan's PM on August 11 Imran Khan on Monday said that he will take oath as Pakistan's Prime Minister on August 11, according to a media report. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), led by 65-year-old Khan, has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly (NA) after the July 25 elections, but it is still<doc-sep>ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Imran Khan on Monday to congratulate him on his party’s victory in the Pakistan general election, with both men discussing regional peace. Slideshow ( 2 images ) It was their first call since Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged victorious from last week’s vote that has been marred by claims of pre-election rigging and irregularities on the day. Relations between the nuclear-armed rivals have frayed in the last couple of years, with direct talks stalled amid diplomatic rows and military firing across the Line of Control frontier that divides the disputed region of Kashmir. Khan, widely seen as Pakistan’s prime minister-in-waiting, is now courting independent candidates and minor parties to form a coalition government in a nation that has fought three wars with India. In the phone call, Modi “reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighborhood”, according to a statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Khan declared in his victory speech that he wanted to resolve the long-standing territorial dispute over Kashmir, saying “if India comes and takes one step toward us, we will take two”. Khan’s media team said he had told Modi it was vital both countries focus on pulling millions out of poverty. The PTI said Khan had also told Modi that issues between the two nations must be resolved through talks. “Wars can breed tragedies instead of facilitating resolution of conflicts,” he said, according to a PTI statement. “Prime Minister (Modi) expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan,” the Indian ministry said in a brief statement. European Union observers say there was an uneven playing field during the election as major obstacles were put in the way of a rival party that was led by jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif. The United States has also expressed concern about what it calls electoral “flaws”. Khan has offered to investigate all claims of irregularities, and promised to build a new Pakistan with an Islamic welfare state that would seek to elevate those mired in poverty. Some analysts and commentators have said Pakistan’s democracy has been weakened by meddling by the armed forces. Both Khan and the military deny colluding with each other. Majority-Muslim Pakistan has criticized India in recent years about what it calls New Delhi’s heavy-handed tactics in Kashmir, as well as violence suffered by the Muslim-minority groups in India at the hands of Hindu extremists. India blames Pakistan for stoking the revolt in Kashmir and the Modi government has refused talks unless Islamabad acts against militant groups operating from its soil against India. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part. In its first response to Khan’s election, the Indian foreign office said it hoped Pakistan’s new government would work for a terror-free South Asia.<doc-sep>
Prime Minister Modi also reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood. Highlights PM Modi on Monday spoke to Pakistan's Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan PM Modi expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pak He also reiterated his vision of peace in the entire neighbourhood Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke to Imran Khan, who is set to become Pakistan's next prime minister, and hoped that democracy will take deeper roots in the neighbouring country. He congratulated the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader for his party emerging as the largest political party in the National Assembly there in the recent elections. The prime minister expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan, a statement from his office said. He also reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood, the statement said. Mr Khan had said that he will take oath as the prime minister on August 11, according to a media report. His party announced on Monday that it has acquired enough seats in the lower house through coalition talks to form a majority government. In a presidential style address on Thursday night after claiming victory in the bitterly fought elections marred by allegations of rigging, Mr Khan had indicated he would offer an olive branch to India and the two neighbours should resolve the Kashmir issue. "God has given me a chance to come to power to implement that ideology which I started 22 years ago," Mr Khan, 65, said in a televised speech from his house near the capital Islamabad. "I really want to fix our ties, you take one step forward, we will take two," he said.