Pakistan PM Imran Khan congratulates PM Modi on NDA's stunning Lok Sabha election performance. Here's what he said

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the National Democratic Alliance were moments away from their historic victory in the Lok Sabha Elections. The former expressed his desire towards collaborating with PM Modi for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia. 

As the vote counting process drew to a close towards the evening on Thursday, Khan tweeted, “I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia.” 

Several other world leaders had also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for receiving a thumping mandate from the country for his second consecutive term. 

China President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, had also congratulated the Prime Minister for his imminent victory. 

The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, in a statement, shared, “President of People Republic of China, H. E. Mr.  Xi Jinping sent a letter to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi earlier today congratulating him on the electoral victory of National Democratic Alliance under his leadership. In the letter, President Xi noted the great importance he attached to the development of India-China relations and his desire to work with Prime Minister Modi to take the Closer Development Partnership between the two countries to a new height. President Xi also expressed satisfaction at the strong momentum of development in India-China relations in recent years with the joint efforts of both sides.” 

"I am convinced that, as the Prime Minister of India, you will further strengthen the centuries-old friendship between our peoples and the all-round development of a particularly privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India," Putin said in a congratulatory message. The counting of votes began at 8 am on May 23 in each of the 542 constituencies (the Vellore Lok Sabha polls had been countermanded).   

At the time of publishing this story, NDA was leading in 348 seats, well over the halfway mark needed to form the government in the 543-seat Lok Sabha, UPA stood at 97 seats, while all other probable winners constituted 97 seats.