India hopes for constructive engagement with new Pak PM

Indian PM Narendra Modi has congratulated Pakistan's New Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a letter, and asked him to build "normal neighbourly relations" between the two countries which will be for "the benefit of the region".

The letter was sent last week after PM Sharif took charge as the new Prime Minister after Imran Khan lost a vote of confidence in the National Assembly, according to Indian media reports.

The letter called for "constructive engagement" and reminded the Pakistan side that "India remains committed to advancing peace, security and prosperity in the region".

PM Modi in the letter to the new Pakistan PM also raised the issue of terror calling for "an environment free of terror and violence" which would allow "us to focus our attention on the development and progress of our people".

India has raised the issue of cross border terrorism before linking to Pakistan's support to anti-India terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

PM Shehbaz Sharif had reciprocated and written back to PM Modi on April 16. In his letter, PM Sharif had called for "meaningful engagement" between the two countries but linked it with the "resolution of all outstanding disputes, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir".