MUMBAI, June 21: Three stand-up comedians from Pakistan have jested their way to the finals of a popular Indian television show, as cultural and sporting ties lighten relations between the two countries.

For weeks, Rauf Lala and the pair of Irfan Malik and Ali Hasan — known as Pakistan’s Laurel and Hardy — held the spotlight on the ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge-II’, before they were chosen for the finals through a public voting system.

The winner will be decided on Friday, but the Pakistani comedians say the result will not matter.

“For us, we are already winners because we got so much love and warmth from the Indian audience.

Our performances were so appreciated and they voted us into the final,” Mr Malik said.

“Art knows no barriers, and in our case there is not even the difference in language or culture,” Ali Hasan said.

“We were mobbed by supporters in Mumbai.

“People met us and told us how much they liked our shows. It’s so much like being in Pakistan.”—Reuters