New Delhi:

Pakistan is gearing up for crucial elections on Thursday in a political landscape rife with controversy, court battles and accusations of an unfair playing field. Amid the chaos, the issue of Pakistan’s relations with India looms large.

Here’s a comprehensive look at the leading candidates and their stance on India.

Nawaz Sharif – Lion of Punjab

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif is a political heavyweight expected to win and potentially become prime minister for a fourth term. Despite Sharif’s wealth and influence, he has been intermittently in prison and in exile.

As an advocate of economic liberalization and free markets, Sharif has also expressed a strong interest in improving relations with India. His party manifesto promises to send a “message of peace” to India, but only if New Delhi reverses the abolition of Article 370 in Kashmir – a key region of Pakistan’s electoral politics. Sharif, who recently returned from exile, recognized India’s progress and global achievements and advocated the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari – political heir

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, 35, a scion of the Bhutto dynasty and leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), enters the electoral race with a rich political legacy. As the son of Benazir Bhutto, he inherited a family history filled with tragedy and power struggles.

His mother was elected twice but was killed in an assassination attempt in 2007. His grandfather, another former prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, faced a different fate: he was ousted in a coup and executed in 1979. His father, Asif Ali Zardari, became president but remains a controversial figure amid rampant corruption allegations.

While the PPP may not secure a majority, its stronghold in the southern province of Sindh gives it significant influence in potential coalition-building. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s stance towards India was multifaceted. While advocating for the normalization of relations between the two countries, he also made widely criticized remarks about US Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Imran Khan – Charismatic cricketer turned politician

Imran Khan was ousted as prime minister in 2022 and barred from contesting this election due to legal disputes, but his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains a powerful force. Despite tensions with the military, Khan’s party could still have a significant influence in the polls.

In 2019, he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “give peace a chance” and expressed readiness to act on intelligence about the Pulwama attack that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated nearly two weeks after the Pulwama attack. 24 Pakistani fighter jets, including F-16s, entered Indian airspace over Jammu and Kashmir. An aerial battle ensued and an F-16 was shot down by an Indian MiG-21 Bison. MiG-21s also sustained damage and crashed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Its pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistani forces but released two days later.

In 2021, Khan welcomed the ceasefire agreement and emphasized Islamabad’s willingness to resolve the issue through dialogue. However, in June 2023, Khan highlighted the lack of progress in exchange relations with India.