Islamabad, Aug 16 (UNI) Pakistan Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan paid his tributes over the death of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday.
In a condolence message, Mr Khan said, "Vajpayee's efforts for peace between Pakistan and India will always be remembered. The deceased was a huge political figure in South Asia."
The Geo TV, quoting the PTI Chief, said that as prime minister, Vajpayee had taken the responsibility to enhance relations between Pakistan and India.
"'There is a void in the politics of South Asia after his death. There can be political differences but the desire of peace remains present across the border," he added.
The PTI chief said. "We stand with India in this difficult time."
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry tweeted: "A legend has departed, his politics was controversial but his desire for peace was unifying."
Journalist-turned-politician Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed called an irreparable loss and said, "He was [an] icon of peace who had a Nixonian vision to reach out for building bridges with Pakistan; honoured to serve as a minister-in-waiting during his famous bus journey to Lahore in 1999."
Columnist and author Mehr Tarar also extended condolences to the family and all of India, recognising that he was "the Indian prime minister who travelled to Lahore in the Sada-e-Sarhad bus with a message of dosti, who wished India & Pakistan to move beyond the bloodied history, and be friends".
Vajpayee passed away in New Delhi at the age of 93. He had started the famous Delhi-Lahore bus service to foster better relationships between India and Pakistan. He had even travelled on a bus to Pakistan during its inaugural run on February 19, 1999 and was received by the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
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