Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria on Friday called on Pakistan Tehreeq-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, who is set to be sworn in as Prime Minister of the neighbouring country next week.
“Called on @ImranKhanPTI and his team today for a positive, constructive conversation,’’ Bisaria tweeted after the meeting at Khan’s residence.
Called on @ImranKhanPTI and his team today for a positive, constructive conversation.@MEAIndia @IndiainPakistan https://t.co/ZIAGXI4hfI
— Ajay Bisaria (@Ajaybis) August 10, 2018
The Indian High Commission in Islamabad tweeted: “Indian HC Ajay Bisaria called on Mr Imran Khan, Chairperson & senior leadership
of PTI. HC congratulated @ImranKhanPTI on his electoral success, discussed
range of issues, prospects of India-Pak relationship. HC gifted a cricket bat autographed by the entire Indian cricket team.’’
READ | Imran Khan to take oath on August 18 | Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Sidhu invited
According to Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn, after the Indian diplomat congratulated Khan on his party’s victory in last month’s elections, his host expressed grave concern over ”human rights violations” in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I hope that the SAARC leaders’ conference will be held in Islamabad soon,”
Khan said.
Bisaria too hoped that a new chapter in the Pakistan-India relations would soon begin.
The Indian envoy gifted a cricket bat, autographed by the entire Indian cricket team, to the Prime Minister-in-waiting.
The meeting is being seen in diplomatic circles as a clear indication of India’s willingness to engage with the incoming civilian government in the country, provided it takes steps to deal with terrorism against India emanating from the Pakistani territory.
Ajay Bisaria is among a few Islamabad-based envoys who have held meetings with Imran after his party’s success in the elections.
Imran Khan will take oath as Prime Minister on August 18, Senator Faisal Javed said on Friday. He also confirmed that three former Indian cricketers Kapil Dev, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sunil Gavaskar had been invited to the oath-taking ceremony.
In his congratulatory phone call to Imran last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about evolving a joint strategy to ensure progress in bilateral ties.