In a rare public exchange between the rulers of the two archrival governments on Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, for congratulating him on assuming office.
“Thank you Narendra Modi for congratulating me on my election as Prime Minister of Pakistan,” PM Shehbaz said on his official X Twitter.
PM Shehbaz greets international leaders, including Modi, for their congratulations on assuming office.
Shehbaz, President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was elected as the country’s prime minister for the second time in a row last week after receiving 201 votes from affiliated parties, principally the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.
Shehbaz’s opponent, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate Omar Ayub Khan, lost the PM.
Soon after his election as Prime Minister, foreign leaders and diplomats congratulated him on becoming the country’s main executive.
Besides Modi, PM Shehbaz congratulated other heads of state in separate posts on X.
“I wish to thank my brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of brotherly Saudi Arabia, for the warm wishes and prayers on my assumption of the office of Prime Minister,” the premier said in a statement on X.
According to the Prime Minister, Pakistan-Saudi relations are deeply entrenched in historical roots of mutual respect, religious and cultural affinity, and shared ideals.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with my brother for the mutual benefit of the peoples of our two brotherly countries,” he said.
