ISLAMABAD May 16: The Awami National Party (ANP) has expressed the hope that the ongoing peace talks between India and Pakistan will continue in the larger interest of both the nations.

The ANP secretary information Zahid Khan called on the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, Raghavan, on Saturday to convey felicitations to the Indian prime minister-in-waiting Sonia Gandhi on behalf of his party leadership.

He said Ms Gandhi's party was known for its commitment to democracy, non-violence and secularism and, therefore, the next government in India should have no problem continuing the peace process in South Asia.

Talking toDawn on Sunday, the ANP leader said, during his meeting with the Indian diplomat, he recalled the common platform from which both the Indian Congress and Khudai Khidmatgar movement of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Bacha Khan) had struggled together for the independence of subcontinent.

He said like the Congress, Bacha Khan too had preached non violence and secularism during his long struggle against the foreign and native colonialists. He said he conveyed the words of fecilitations to the Congress party and Ms Sonia Gandhi on behalf of Khan Abdul Wali Khan, Begum Nasim Wali Khan and ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan.

He expressed the hope that the people of Pakistan will also come out in support of the secular political forces as was done by the Indian voters in the last elections.