Manmohan Singh congratulates Nawaz Sharif, invites him to India

NEW DELHI: Reaching out to the new government in Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today congratulated Nawaz Sharif and his party PML(N) for their emphatic victory in elections and conveyed desire to work with him to chart "a new course" in India-Pakistan relations.

Singh also invited Sharif to visit India at a mutually-convenient time.

"The Prime Minister has extended his congratulations to Sharif and his party for their emphatic victory in Pakistan's elections," the PMO said in a statement.

Singh also congratulated the people and the political parties of Pakistan for braving the threats of violence and voting in large numbers.

The Prime Minister "expressed India's desire to work with the new government of Pakistan in charting a new course for the relationship between the two countries," it said.