Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif felicitates Indian Prime Minister Modi on re-election

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan extended his congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on securing his third term in office. This gesture marks Sharif's first response to the Indian elections, coming around a week after the election results were announced on June 4th.

Despite ongoing tensions between the two nations, Sharif's congratulatory message to Modi highlights diplomatic courtesy. Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained, particularly since 2019 when India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and conducted airstrikes inside Pakistan.

Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its outright majority in the recent elections, necessitating the formation of a coalition government with regional parties.

Although Shehbaz Sharif was not invited to Modi's inauguration, Modi responded to Sharif's message with gratitude for the good wishes.

Additionally, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz's elder brother and former prime minister of Pakistan, also congratulated Modi and expressed hope for peace and cooperation in South Asia during Modi's third tenure. This sentiment reflects a broader desire for stability and improved relations between the two neighboring countries.