Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, following Sharif’s inauguration as Pakistan’s 24th premier.
Modi’s felicitation was conveyed via an official statement on his X account, recognizing Sharif’s assumption of Pakistan’s prime ministerial role.
Sharif, who served a 16-month term from April 2022 to August 2023, reclaimed the position after President Arif Alvi administered his oath. This victory marks Sharif’s second term, secured with 201 votes against 92 for his opponent, Omar Ayub Khan of the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council, in a tumultuous parliamentary session.
Prominent global figures, including Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi, Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim, the UK’s David Cameron, and US Ambassador Donald Blome, have also congratulated Sharif.
The United States, acknowledging Sharif’s return, pledged to collaborate with Pakistan in promoting mutual interests. State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller, refraining from personal remarks about Sharif, emphasized the US’s commitment to a robust and democratic Pakistan as pivotal to bilateral relations.
Read: U.S. Supports Shehbaz Sharif’s Return as PM
China, too, shared optimism about Pakistan’s future under Sharif, foreseeing significant national progress. Chinese spokesperson Mao Ning relayed congratulations from President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, lauding Sharif’s positive stance on Sino-Pak relations and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
