NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Thursday that the new political order was yet to take shape in Pakistan but emphasised that the two countries must work hard and sincerely to normalise relations and deal with all outstanding problems.

“I have always maintained that our two countries need to have best possible relations. Whenever an opportunity arises, we will take full advantage of those opportunities to improve our relations,” Dr Singh told accompanying journalists on his return from a five-day trip to Nigeria and South Africa.

“I think the new political order in Pakistan is yet to take shape, but very sincerely, I believe that the destinies of the people of India and Pakistan are intertwined,” Press Trust of India quoted him as saying of the changes taking place under President Pervez Musharraf’s watch.

He said the two countries must work hard and sincerely to normalise ties and deal with all outstanding problems that have “bedevilled the relations”.

Dr Singh was replying to a question about his recent comments that the India-Pakistan peace process may have had a setback due to the political developments in Pakistan and he would wait for the new situation to evolve.