Coming to the rescue of his “friend” Navjot Singh Sidhu, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday tweeted that those targeting him in India are “doing great disservice to peace in the subcontinent”.
Pakistan’s cricket legend took to the micro blogging website to thank the cricketer-turned-politician Sidhu for attending his oath taking as Pak Prime Minister, while describing him as an “ambassador of peace”. Sidhu was given amazing love and affection by the people of Pakistan, said Imran.
“I want to thank Sidhu for coming to Pakistan for my oath taking. He was an ambassador of peace and was given amazing love and affection by the people of Pakistan. Those in India who targeted him are doing a great disservice to peace in the subcontinent -- without peace our people cannot progress,” tweeted Imran.
Sidhu has been facing flak from all corners, including within his own party, for hugging the Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and sitting next to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir president Masood Khan during Imran’s swearing-in ceremony on August 18.
At the same time, Imran again called out India to resolve their conflicts through dialogue. “To move forward, Pakistan and India must (have) dialogue and resolve their conflicts including Kashmir. The best way to alleviate poverty and uplift the people of the subcontinent is to resolve our differences through dialogue and start trading,” he said in a related tweet.
Sidhu had described his Pak visit as “a golden opportunity” to improve ties between not only the two warring nations, but also between two Punjabs.
Responding, Sidhu said that he reciprocate “from the core of my heart, it means the world to me”.
“Khan Sahib, through his invitation, made me an instrument of peace and goodwill between the two nations. This is the high point of my life…His warmth, love and affection is heart rendering. He is the hope of millions who want peace and prosperity between the two nations,” said Sidhu.
Saying that he wish that Imran “rises to the occasion and carries the weight of expectancy as he always has”, Sidhu wished him “a great innings in politics”.