NEW DELHI, March 25: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told his new Pakistan counterpart Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday that he expects India-Pakistan relations to evolve to become the “best ever” between the two countries.

An official statement said Dr Singh telephoned Mr Gilani in the evening to greet him on becoming Pakistan’s prime minister. He said he expects Mr Gilani to “build on the initiatives taken by his predecessors, former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif and also that of President Pervez Musharraf to improve bilateral relations”.

Earlier in the day Prime Minister Singh also wrote a letter to Mr Gilani saying there was a strong public sentiment in both countries for accelerating the peace process and establishing a cooperative framework for bilateral relations.

The text of the letter is reproduced below:

“Excellency, Please accept my warm felicitations on your assumption of office as the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. On this occasion, I re-affirm the Government of India’s commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Pakistan. We see a stable, prosperous and democratic Pakistan as being in the interest of India and the region.

“There is a strong public sentiment in both our countries in favour of accelerating the peace process and establishing a cooperative framework for our bilateral relations. There is a common desire to establish a neighbourhood of peace and progress based on greater linkages between our two people, trust and mutual understanding.

“Leading personalities of the coalition that will form your government have been strong advocates of friendly ties between our two countries and have made important contributions to the peace process. I hope very much that we can build upon the progress already achieved and work expeditiously, through the dialogue process, towards agreed solutions of pending issues.

“We have an opportunity to transform our relationship into the close, cooperative and mutually beneficial partnership that should be normal between neighbours like India and Pakistan. I look forward to working closely with you towards an objective that I am confident you share.

“Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.”