ISLAMABAD:
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first CEOs congratulate newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday.
President Erdogan called Shehbaz and Modi tweeted congratulating the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). for becoming the 23rd prime minister of Pakistan.
According to PML-N media wing, the Turkish President told Shehbaz that he was “delighted” over his election as prime minister. The Sharifs have a personal relationship with Erdogan, who was also in first foreign leader call Imran Khan when he was elected as prime minister in August 2018.
Telephone call Turkish President triggered debate on social media as former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi previously claimed to have received the phone call from his Turkish colleague, who expressed concern over regime change in Pakistan through a foreign conspiracy.
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Modi wasted no time in promoting prime minister on Twitter. “Congratulations to His Excellency Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as prime minister of Pakistan. India wants peace and stability in a region for free of terror so we can focus on our development challenges and ensure well-being and prosperity of our people”.
Congratulations to His Excellency Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as prime minister of Pakistan. India wants peace and stability in a region for free of terror so we can focus on our development challenges and ensure well-being and prosperity of our people.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 11, 2022
In his first speech like prime minister Shehbaz previously sought better connections with India but stressed need for resolution of long time issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Relations between Pakistan and India remain tense for for many years. There were some hopes of thaw in February last year when both sides agreed to renew the truce along the Line of Control (LoC).
But the process could not move forward as attempts to resume partial trade between two countries were scuttled by Imran Khan government. The Sharif brothers are treated favorably in India, considering them past attempts to improve relations between the two South Asian neighbors.
But given that Shehbaz leads coalition government and facing serious domestic political and economic problems, it is highly unlikely that forward motion on ties between India and Pakistan.
Also read: Shehbaz Sharif sworn in in like 23rd prime minister of Pakistan
On the other hand, the Chinese state media welcomed the election of Shehbaz Sharif as head of state new prime minister. Shehbaz enjoys good reputation in the Chinese circle, as often attributed to it with acceleration work on China-Pakistan Economic Projects (CPEC).
According to the Chinese state run mediaBeijing is waiting improvement in attitude with pakistan as result of Shehbaz Sharif becomes prime minister. “Potential successor of Khan of the Sharif family who promoted Sino-Pakistani ties for long time and cooperation between the two countries maybe even better than under the khan, ”says Global Times.
Former prime minister Imran Khan continued to insist that he removed from power through a US-backed conspiracy as it targeted independent foreign policy. But observers ask, if so, why do the Chinese media was happy over turn of government in Islamabad.
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