He was ambassador of peace: Imran Khan thanks Navjot Singh Sidhu for attending oath ceremony

Imran Khan’s remarks came shortly after Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said his hugging Pakisrtan’s Army chief was made in an “emotional moment” and that his trip was not politically motivated.

india Updated: Aug 21, 2018 15:21 IST
In this handout photograph released by the Press Information Department (PID) on August 18, 2018, newly appointed Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan (C) meets with Navjot Singh Sidhu and members of the 1992 Cricket world cup team in Islamabad. (AFP)

Amid the controversy over Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu’s presence at his oath-taking ceremony, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday thanked him for attending and termed him an “ambassador of peace”.

“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,” Khan said in a tweet.

He also said Pakistan and India must have dialogue and resolve their conflicts including Kashmir to move forward. “The best way to alleviate poverty and uplift the people of the subcontinent is to resolve our differences through dialogue and start trading,” he tweeted.

His remarks came shortly after Congress leader and Punjab minister Sidhu, facing criticism for hugging Pakistan’s army chief, said on Tuesday the gesture was made in an “emotional moment” and that his trip was not politically motivated.

“Pakistan army chief said they were making efforts to open corridor to Kartarpur Sahib, what followed was an emotional moment,” Sidhu told reporters.

Hitting back, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has slammed Sidhu’s visit, said that there are the people within the Congress party who are trying to promote the interests of Pakistan in India.

First Published: Aug 21, 2018 15:10 IST