NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent aletter to PM Imran Khan, saying he desires cordial relations with Pakistan.
*Al Jazeera *reported that PM Modi wrote the letter to Imran Khan to extendgreetings to the people of that country on the occasion of Pakistan Day.
It is pertinent to mention here that the letter appeared to be a rareoverture of peace for the two rival nations.
Two senior officials at Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed the contentsof the letter to The Associated Press news agency. They spoke on conditionof anonymity in line with government policy.
“As a neighbouring country, India desires cordial relations with the peopleof Pakistan,” Modi wrote in the letter, but added: “For this, anenvironment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is imperative.”
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Asad Umar, a senior Pakistani minister, in a post on Twitter welcomedModi’s letter, calling it a “message of goodwill”.
The message from Modi follows a series of moves and statements signallingrapprochement. The two sides are currently holding talks on sharing Indusriver water in New Delhi.
The development comes days after Khan expressed his desire for goodrelations with India but said the first step should be taken by India ashis past peace overtures were not positively received.