Imran Khan calls PM Narendra Modi to congratulate him on landslide victory

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday called his Indian counter Narendra Modi to congratulate him on his landslide victory in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 and expressed his desire to work with Delhi.

"PM spoke to PM Modi today and congratulated him on his party’s electoral victory in Lok Sabha elections in India.  PM expressed his desire for both countries to work together for betterment of their peoples," Mohammad Faisal, spokesperson for Pakistan's foreign ministry, tweeted. 

PM spoke to PM Modi today and congratulated him on his party’s electoral victory in Lok Sabha elections in India. PM expressed his desire for both countries to work together for betterment of their peoples.
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— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) May 26, 2019

"Reiterating his vision for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia, the Prime Minister said he looked forward to working with Prime Minister Modi to advance these objectives," he said in another tweet.

Imran spoke to PM Modi after he led his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a landslide victory for a second five-year term in office, winning 303 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. 

While speaking to his counterpart over the phone, PM Modi recalled his initiatives in line with his government’s neighbourhood first policy.

"Recalling his initiatives in line with his govt’s neighbourhood first policy, PM Modi referred to his earlier suggestion to the Pak PM to fight poverty jointly," tweeted ANI.

The prime minister also stressed on creating an environment free of violence and terrorism. 

MEA: PM Modi in his telephonic conversation with Pak PM Imran Khan stressed that creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism were essential for fostering cooperation for peace, progress and prosperity in the region. https://t.co/pZrZunmAs8

— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2019

"PM Modi in his telephonic conversation with Pak PM Imran Khan stressed that creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism were essential for fostering cooperation for peace, progress and prosperity in the region," the agency reported. 

The results of India's general elections are very significant for Pakistan as the formation of the next government in New Delhi will determine the course of Indo-Pakistan ties, which were pushed to a new low after the Pulwama terror attack.

In April, Khan said he believed there may be a better chance of peace talks with India and settle the Kashmir issue if Modi's party BJP wins the general elections.

Just a day before the announcement of results, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj exchanged pleasantries on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and conveyed to her Pakistan's desire to resolve all issues through dialogue.

Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14.

Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting the biggest JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an IAF pilot, who was handed over to India.

With PTI Inputs