Karzai greets Pak new PM Sharif

Afghan President Hamid Karzai today congratulated Nawaz Sharif on becoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan and invited him to visit Afghanistan.
Karzai telephoned Sharif this morning and felicitated him on assuming the office of the premier.
Sharif accepted Karzai's invitation to visit Afghanistan and thanked him, said a statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister's Office.
While talking to Sharif, Karzai "extended his best wishes and expressed the hope that both the brotherly countries will continue to work for further improvement in the bilateral relations which would augur well for peace and stability in the region" the statement said.
Sharif further said he was looking forward to visit Afghanistan.

In recent weeks, relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan hit a low following clashes between troops of both countries over what Afghan officials described as illegal constructions by the Pakistani side along the disputed border.

Karzai has also accused the Pakistani military of backing militants carrying out attacks in his country.
In a separate development, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also felicitated Sharif and the people of Pakistan on the successful completion of the general election and the victory of the PML-N.
In a message, Ahmadinejad expressed confidence that relations between the two countries would flourish under the leadership of Sharif.
The Speaker of Iran's Consultative Assembly, Ali Larijani, too sent a message congratulating Sharif.

He said the transfer of power to the PML-N indicated the high confidence reposed by the people in Sharif and his party.
Larijani hoped there would be increased parliamentary interaction between the two countries in the days ahead.