After providing a seal of approval to Pakistan elections, India has intensified contacts with Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the run-up to government formation. The Indian mission remains in touch with senior PTI leaders who are likely to play an important role in the new government, according to sources.

While the PTI campaign was not completely devoid of anti-India rhetoric, the Indian side understands that this had more to do with the rough and tumble of Pakistan politics than any antipathy for India. Khan’s party too has been appreciative of the fact that the Indian side, contrary to the popular perception in Pakistan that the Narendra Modi government wanted Nawaz Sharif ’s party to return to power, remained equidistant from all parties.

“They know that the Indian mission was as much in touch with PTI as with PML-N or even with PPP,” said a source.

Indian officials have not ruled out the possibility of PM Modi making a congratulatory phone call, like Afghan Prez Ashraf Ghani did Sunday, to Khan in the next few days as a part of the reachout.

India closely followed Ghani’s telephonic conversation with Khan in which, as the Afghan president announced on Twitter, both leaders agreed to overcome the past and to lay a new foundation “for a prosperous political, social and economic future” of both countries. TNN

Courtesy: Times of India:  Jul 30, 2018