Shehbaz Sharif Congratulates Narendra Modi on Historic Third Term

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated India's Narendra Modi on his third term as Prime Minister. Despite past conflicts and strained relations, Sharif acknowledged Modi's electoral success. Modi's coalition government marks a new political phase in India, while Sharif was not invited to the inauguration ceremony.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated on Monday arch rival India's Narendra Modi on being sworn in as prime minister for a third term, in the first response by Islamabad to election results across the border.

"Felicitations to @narendramodi on taking oath as the Prime Minister of India," Sharif said in a post on X, a day after Modi took his oath and nearly a week after election results were declared on June 4. Modi was

sworn-in on Sunday for a record equalling third term after a shock election setback as he lost his outright majority and is dependent on regional parties for support in his first coalition government.

Nuclear-armed rivals and neighbours India and Pakistan have fought two wars and engaged in numerous clashes, mainly over control of the Kashmir region in the Himalayas. Ties between the two have been frozen since India ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir state in 2019 and split it into two federally administered territories.

New Delhi invited leaders of seven regional countries to Sunday's grand inauguration at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, or president's palace, in New Delhi but Sharif wasn't included. (Writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by YP Rajesh)