Pakistan on Friday said it was “premature” for the country to congratulate the Indian Prime Minister ahead of Narendra Modi’s swearing-in as Prime Minister. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch’s statement came when she was asked if her country had officially congratulated Narendra Modi on winning the general elections.

“We have no comment on their election process,” Baloch said, adding that since the government is being formed in India, it would be “premature” to talk about congratulating the Indian prime minister.

He also said that it is the right of the people of India to decide about their leadership.

Addressing his weekly press briefing, Baloch said Pakistan wants “cooperative relations” with all neighbours, including India, and seeks resolution of disputes through dialogue.

Baloch also said that Pakistan was “acting responsibly, despite the difficulties and rhetoric coming from India.”

He said, “Pakistan has always sought cooperative relations with all its neighbours, including India. We have consistently advocated constructive dialogue and engagement to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Pakistan had downgraded its ties with India after the Indian Parliament suspended Article 370 on August 5, 2019, with Islamabad believing that the decision had harmed the atmosphere for dialogue between the neighbours.

India has consistently maintained that it wants normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan, and asserted that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such a relationship.

“Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence. We hope that India will take steps to create a conducive environment for promoting peace and dialogue and resolution of long-standing disputes for the mutual benefit of the people of Pakistan and India,” Baloch said at the briefing.

Narendra Modi is set to take charge as India’s prime minister for a historic third consecutive term on Sunday. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. The results of the Lok Sabha elections were declared on June 4.