India’s Modi, Pakistan’s Khan Stress Need for Peace

Date: 24 May 2019 - 22:01

News ID: ۶۶۳۳۶

NEW DELHI (AFP) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani rival Imran Khan sent messages highlighting the need for "peace" Thursday after Modi's hawkish party won a new term in power.
While the nuclear-armed rivals launched cross-border airstrikes at each other barely three months ago, some analysts say the return of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a new landslide could help peace prospects.
Khan congratulated Modi on the win by the BJP, which has long taken a strong anti-Pakistan stance.
"Congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia," Khan tweeted.
"Thank you PM @ImranKhanPTI. I warmly express my gratitude for your good wishes. I have always given primacy to peace and development in our region," Modi responded, also on Twitter.
The messages came just hours after Pakistan said it had tested a surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads.
India on Wednesday staged a new test of its BrahMos missile, the world's fastest cruise missile.
In February, India launched an airstrike inside Pakistan accusing its neighbor of harboring a group that staged a suicide bomb attack on Indian troops in Kashmir.
Pakistan launched its own raid the next day amid fears of a war, but tensions have calmed since.
Muslim Pakistan had watched Modi's campaign warily, frequently accusing him of using events in the disputed Kashmir region as a ploy to gain votes.
In April, however, Khan said a Modi win could help settle the Kashmir showdown and his government has repeatedly stated it is open to dialogue with the rival.
Pakistanis consider Modi a hardliner, analysts say, but welcomed his win even so -- predicting it could lead to improved relations.
"The expectation in Pakistan is that there will be an incremental improvement in Pakistan-India relations as Modi's attitude would be more relaxed," retired Pakistani general Talat Masood told AFP.
"If you want to focus on the economy, if you want to focus on the regional cooperation and (for) a better image internationally, it is important to have good regional relations with neighbors," he said.
The Kashmir fuse continues to burn, however. Pakistani and Indian forces regularly fire over the Line of Control -- the de-facto border dividing Kashmir -- leaving civilian dead on both sides.