Pakistan seeks peaceful ties with India, PM Shehbaz Sharif tells Narendra Modi

• Sources says PM Shehbaz Sharif has responded to the congratulatory letter written by Narendra Modi.
• PM Shehbaz tells Indian counterpart that Islamabad wants to resolve all issues, including Kashmir, with New Delhi.
• PM Modi, in his letter, had expressed his desire for developing constructive relations with Pakistan sources had said.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has informed his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi of seeking peaceful ties with India, sources told Geo News on Sunday.

PM Shehbaz, who was sworn in earlier this week, had conveyed Pakistan’s intention of desiring peaceful ties with India in a letter to PM Modi. The letter was sent in response to the one sent by the Indian leader on PM Shehbaz’s victory in the National Assembly.

Sources said that PM Shehbaz told his Indian counterpart that Islamabad wants to resolve all issues, including Kashmir, with New Delhi.

Earlier, PM Modi in his letter had expressed his desire for developing constructive relations with Pakistan, sources had said.

PM Shehbaz's letter was in line with what he had told the Indian leader on Twitter after he had congratulated him on becoming Pakistan's prime minister.

After being sworn in as the 23rd prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif thanked Modi for his good wishes, expressing his wish for peaceful and cooperative ties with India.

Following the ouster of PTI Chairman Imran Khan from the office of the prime minister, the Opposition's joint candidate Shehbaz was elected as the premier — having secured 174 votes.

Responding to a tweet from Modi, the newly elected premier said: "Thank you Premier Narendra Modi for felicitations. Pakistan desires peaceful & cooperative ties with India. Peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes including Jammu & Kashmir is indispensable."

"Let's secure peace and focus on socio-economic development of our people," wrote PM Shehbaz.

India's Modi congratulated Shehbaz on becoming PM

Indian PM Modi on Monday congratulated Sharif on becoming the 23rd premier of Pakistan.

In his congratulatory message to Shehbaz on Twitter, PM Modi said: "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," he wrote.