Imran offers hope for better Indo-Pak relations: Sidhu

CHANDIGARH: Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been invited by Pakistan''s Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan to his oath-taking ceremony on August 11, said: "I see a ray of hope for cordial relations with Pakistan in the gesture shown by Imran Khan in inviting us to his swearing-in. He is a man of great character with whom my association dates back to more than 35 years. He does what he says."

Navjot Singh Sidhu

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 2

Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been invited by Pakistan's Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan to his oath-taking ceremony on August 11, said: "I see a ray of hope for cordial relations with Pakistan in the gesture shown by Imran Khan in inviting us to his swearing-in. He is a man of great character with whom my association dates back to more than 35 years. He does what he says."

Talking to The Tribune on Thursday, Sidhu said: "Rising from a single seat, he is set to form government in Pakistan only because of his firm faith in his work. Imram had the same commitment during his initial days in cricket during the 1980s. Look at the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Yunis and Inzamam-ul-Haq, he picked from the countryside and made them forces to reckon with in international cricket. He made the Pakistan team, which had been written off in 1992, to win the World Cup. He has done the same in picking fellow team members for his political team."

Sidhu said: “I did not get any personal call from Imran Khan. But his message stands good enough.”

“I played with him for the first time in 1983, when I represented the President's XI. His balling unnerved me, zooming past my ears. I was too young. In fact, he walked up to me and said nice words to motivate me,” Sidhu said.

“The story was different when I was a part of the Indian team in 1989. Flowing runs from my bat and the flared tempers on their side are embedded in my memory. However, we were friends after the match,” Sidhu said.

The minister said: "We struck a great bond of mutual admiration when we met as commentators in the 2007-08 series which started after a long gap between the two nations. I had, in fact, also visited the residence of Imran Khan in Pakistan. He is a simple man."

"I see the occasion as an opportunity for opening a dialogue for establishing a link with Nankana Sahib and other places".

On Imran's remarks against India in the past, Sidhu said: "Any decision on our relation with Pakistan will be taken by the office of our Prime Minister. These are my personal views."