Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated Narendra Modi on being sworn in as India's prime minister for the third time.

The message appears to be an attempt to improve ties between the bitter rivals, who were at odds during Modi's previous two terms.

In Islamabad's first response to the Indian election results, Sharif offered congratulations in a post on 'X.' Modi briefly responded, also on 'X,' with gratitude.

Former three-time Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif also posted a detailed message on 'X' congratulating Modi.

Nawaz, who is Shehbaz's elder brother and head of the ruling party, suggested that hatred should be replaced by hope in order to seize the opportunity to shape the destiny of the two billion people of South Asia.

The latest move comes at a time in which Pakistan has been suffering severe economic and political turmoil.
Diplomatic ties between the two nations have been frozen since India ended the special status of Indian-Administered-Kashmir in 2019.

According to local media, leaders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives were invited to Modi's swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi on Sunday, but those from Pakistan were not.

The two South Asian neighbors have a long history of wars and conflict, and attention is on whether the new administration will be able to improve diplomatic relations.