New Delhi: India on Wednesday welcomed the conduct of elections in Pakistan and said it would resume the composite dialogue as soon as a ''duly-constituted'' government is in place in that country.
New Delhi hoped that the two countries will be able to resolve outstanding issues and build ''a mutually-beneficial relationship in an atmosphere free of violence and terrorism''.
The Indian government ''welcomes the fact that the people of Pakistan have been able to express themselves clearly in a democratic manner for their own future,'' External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in New Delhi.
While noting that the elections were Pakistan's ''internal affair'', the spokesman did not say anything on the outcome of the polls.
The government has been maintaining that India would deal with whosoever is in power in Pakistan constitutionally.
''India wishes to see Pakistan develop and prosper within a stable democratic order,'' Sarna added.
''As ever, the government of India stands ready to resume the composite dialogue process as soon as a duly-constituted government is in place in Pakistan,'' he said.
The composite dialogue, which was initiated in January 2004, witnessed a pause when President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency on November 3 last year, plunging the country into political turmoil.
