Pakistan’s newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in September on the sidelines of SCO Summit in Tajikistan’s Dushanbe.
According to media reports, the top diplomatic sources in Pakistan claim that the new government in Islamabad is set to renew its pitch to hold SAARC Summit in Pakistan insisting that dialogue is the only way forward.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan took oath as Pakistan’s 22nd Prime Minister on Saturday, three weeks after his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won the highest number of seats in the general election.
Khan, who outvoted opposition and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Shahbaz Sharif in the Prime Minister’s election on Friday, was administered oath by President Mamnoon Hussain at the President House in Islamabad.
On Friday, a delegation led by Pakistan’s Law and Information minister Syed Ali Zafar had attended the last rites of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. After the funeral, Pakistan minister also held a meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Talking to reporters, Zafar said, “I want you to know that the people of Pakistan share your grief and what we are hoping is that all our issues, including Jammu and Kashmir dispute, will be resolved positively and peacefully.”
After winning the July 25 elections, Imran Khan had indicated that he will remain open to dialogue with India.
“If the leadership of India is ready we are definitely ready to improve our relationship. If you [India] take one step towards us, we will take two more towards you. But we must move forward,” he had said.
On July 30, PM Modi had talked to Imran Khan to congratulate him and reiterate his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood.