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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said he wanted to hold a televised debate with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to resolve differences between the two neighbors.
Nuclear rivals have shared hostile relations since gaining independence through three wars 75 years ago.
“I would love to have a debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on TV,” Khan told Russia Today in an interview.
India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“India has become an enemy country so trade with them has become minimal,” Khan said, adding that he had trade relations with all countries, emphasizing his government’s policy.
Khan’s comments followed a similar remark recently by Pakistan’s top commercial official, Razzaq Dawood, who, according to media, told reporters that he supported trade relations with India, which would benefit both sides.
Khan said Pakistan’s options for regional trade were already limited, with Iran, its southwestern neighbor, under US sanctions and Afghanistan, in the west, embroiled in decades of war.
Pakistan shares strong economic ties with its northern neighbor China, which has pledged billions of dollars for infrastructure and other projects under its Belt and Road Initiative.
Khan’s interview comes ahead of a visit to Moscow, where he will meet with President Vladimir Putin – the first visit to Russia by a Pakistani leader in two decades.
A two-day visit was planned to discuss economic cooperation before the current crisis in Ukraine.
“This is not our concern, we have a bilateral relationship with Russia and we really want to strengthen it,” Khan said of the Ukraine crisis.
Nuclear rivals have shared hostile relations since gaining independence through three wars 75 years ago.
“I would love to have a debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on TV,” Khan told Russia Today in an interview.
India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“India has become an enemy country so trade with them has become minimal,” Khan said, adding that he had trade relations with all countries, emphasizing his government’s policy.
Khan’s comments followed a similar remark recently by Pakistan’s top commercial official, Razzaq Dawood, who, according to media, told reporters that he supported trade relations with India, which would benefit both sides.
Khan said Pakistan’s options for regional trade were already limited, with Iran, its southwestern neighbor, under US sanctions and Afghanistan, in the west, embroiled in decades of war.
Pakistan shares strong economic ties with its northern neighbor China, which has pledged billions of dollars for infrastructure and other projects under its Belt and Road Initiative.
Khan’s interview comes ahead of a visit to Moscow, where he will meet with President Vladimir Putin – the first visit to Russia by a Pakistani leader in two decades.
A two-day visit was planned to discuss economic cooperation before the current crisis in Ukraine.
“This is not our concern, we have a bilateral relationship with Russia and we really want to strengthen it,” Khan said of the Ukraine crisis.
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