Dialogue 'best way' to resolve conflict between Pakistan, India: PM Imran

Premier also thanked cricketer-turned-politician Sidhu for his attendance at the oath taking ceremony

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday reiterated his desire for dialogue with India to resolve outstanding differences between the two countries including the disputed Kashmir.

In a tweet, the premier said that the "best way to alleviate poverty and uplift the people of the subcontinent is to resolve our differences through dialogue and start trading".

To move forward Pakistan and India must dialogue and resolve their conflicts incl Kashmir: The best way to alleviate poverty and uplift the people of the subcontinent is to resolve our differences through dialogue and start trading https://t.co/V2UkXp0WwS

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 21, 2018

Mentioning Indian cricketer-turned-politician and friend Navjot Singh Sidhu's visit to Pakistan, Imran expressed gratitude at the goodwill gesture. He further said that Sidhu came as an 'ambassador of peace' and was received warmly by the people of Pakistan.

I want to thank Sidhu for coming to Pakistan for my oath taking. He was an ambassador of peace & was given amazing love & affection by ppl of Pakistan. Those in India who targeted him are doing a gt disservice to peace in the subcontinent - without peace our ppl cannot progress

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 21, 2018

Sidhu's return to India has landed him in hot water as he faces charges of treason over his Pakistan visit. An Indian lawyer pressed charges against him, saying that the cricket star had "insulted the Indian army and hurt the sentiments of the nation" by embracing Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.



At the swearing-in ceremony, Sidhu was seated next to Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Masood Khan. Gen Bajwa embraced Sidhu during a brief conversation which triggered heavy criticism across the border.

On Monday, Sidhu responded to the criticism saying that he will present a timely and befitting reply. “Whenever the reply has to be given, I will give and I will give it to all … It will be a strong reply, ” he said.