Let's open a new page in ties, Sharif tells Modi

The Pakistani premier said his own election and Modi's electoral victory - both "with a clear mandate" - "should be a historic opportunity for both our countries".

This, he said, "provides us the opportunity of meeting the hopes and aspirations of our people" and added that he hoped "to succeed and turn a new page in our relationship".

He recalled to Modi his invitation to the now ailing Vajpayee to Lahore in February 1999 "and told him that I intend to pick up the threads of the Lahore declaration" of peace.

"I stressed that we have a common agenda of economic revival which is not possible to achieve without peace."

Sharif said he urged Modi "to strive to change confrontation to cooperation" and added his government was "ready to discuss all issues in a spirit of cooperation".