Imran Khan invites Modi to visit Pakistan

PTI chairman meets Indian premier in New Delhi, requests to resume cricketing ties

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan met on Friday Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and invited him to visit Pakistan.

According to India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup, both the leaders welcomed recent developments in bilateral relations, and expressed hope that these would lead to closer cooperative ties between the two countries.

When I told Modi that India & Pak should play cricket, he gave a smile, I can't decipher that further, says @ImranKhanPTI #KaptaanInIndia

— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 11, 2015

At his request, Pakistan MP & Chairman of Tehreek-e-Insaf Party Imran Khan called on PM @narendramodi today. pic.twitter.com/Dn9nRthmEk

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 11, 2015

Mr Imran Khan invited PM @narendramodi to visit Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/mxdkTUiYhh

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 11, 2015

Earlier, PTI's central information secretary Shireen Mazari had confirmed a meeting between Modi and PTI chairman may take place.

Chairman Khan is in Delhi on the invitation of India Today. It is believed a mtg may also take place with Indian PM on latter's invitation

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 11, 2015

Former Pakistan captain also requested Modi to resume bilateral cricket ties, reported India Today.

"I told prime minister Modi that India and Pakistan should play each other. I had supported the boycott of South Africa by the cricket world during the apartheid era," Imran told Rajdeep Sardesai, who was moderating the session, which also included former India captain Kapil Dev. "That was about human rights violation and that was unacceptable."

A privilege to anchor a show with the one and only @ImranKhanPTI and Kapil Dev at #Agenda15 @aajtak was just FUN! pic.twitter.com/VqsCQnnq7W

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) December 11, 2015

PHOTO COURTESY: INDIA TODAY

Imran added, "We don't want to be enemies forever. You have to think about the future. There are mutual cricketing heroes in both our countries. Like Wasim Akram is adored and loved in India, Sachin Tendulkar is a hero in Pakistan."

Kapil was more guarded in his response when asked if India should play Pakistan in a bilateral series.

"The decision rests with the government. Both boards are ready to play but you cannot go against your government."



Meanwhile, not undermining Sachin Tendulkar's contribution to the game of cricket, Imran said he always rated Sunil Gavaskar above any batsman in the world, reported NDTV,

"Sachin never played an innings like Gavaskar did. Look, Gavaskar faced a West Indies attack that had four world class fast bowlers. His record does not tell his actual contribution," Imran said at 'Agenda Aajtak' when asked to compare the two greats.

Last week, the PTI chairman expressed shock at the revelation that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had held a secret “deniable” meeting with his Indian counterpart in 2014 on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Summit in Kathmandu.

Criticising the present leadership of both nations, he attributed the lack of courage and conviction as the reason why the secret meetings were held.



This inability to move forward confidently by premier Nawaz is also undermining the credibility of Pakistan Army at a critical juncture in our history when the military is combating terrorism across the country, the PTI chief had said in a statement.

Imran said he believed peace between Pakistan and India was inevitable for the prosperity of people of the subcontinent as peace will ensure economic vibrancy through trade and investment opportunities.