NEW DELHI – The leaders of India and Pakistan spoke by phone on Sunday,their offices said, in their first conversation since before tit-for-tatair strikes in February, their worst bust-up in years.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated his counterpart NarendraModi on his recent election victory, the two nuclear-armed arch foes saidin separate statements.
Khan “expressed his desire for both countries to work together for thebetterment of their peoples,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.
“Reiterating his vision for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia,the Prime Minister said he looked forward to working with Prime MinisterModi to advance these objectives,” it added.
Modi meanwhile “stressed that creating trust and an environment free ofviolence and terrorism were essential for fostering cooperation for peace,progress and prosperity in our region,” India’s foreign ministry said.
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In February a suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir — dividedbetween India and Pakistan since partition in 1947 — claimed by a militantgroup based in Pakistan killed 40 Indian troops.
India and Pakistan then carried out tit-for-tat air strikes, but to thegreat relief of the international community the two countries retreatedfrom the brink of further action. -APP/AFP
