NEW DELHI, Nov 20, Reuter: The Indian government congratulated its longtime foe Pakistan on Sunday for its democratic elections and said it looked forward to friendly relations with the new government.
“We have always been keen for the establishment of friendly and good neighborly relations between India and Pakistan,” an Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
“Accordingly we look forward to working together with a popularly elected government for the speedy and complete normalization of Indo-Pakistan relations in our mutual interest,” he added.
Indian officials said they had refrained from earlier comment because it was uncertain who would form the new civilian government after 11 years of military rule.
The spokesman refused to say whether India preferred Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) or the Islamic democratic Alliance (IDA). Both claim enough support from independents to form a government.
Pakistan and India have fought three wars since both countries gained independence from Britain in 1947.
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