His words are one of the strongest expressions yet of a desire to heal the rift between the two countries that has existed since the partition of India in 1947 to create the Muslim majority republic at the end of British rule. Both have developed nuclear weapons capabilities and fought conventional wars against one another.

The olive branch comes as Pakistan is close to agreeing a financial rescue package with the International Monetary Fund. The country's fledgling democracy is also awaiting a reinvigorated US foreign policy engagement to help save it from bankruptcy and Islamist terror.

The president's conciliatory words come as Kashmir, the disputed Muslim-majority Indian state, goes to the polls in state elections. Pakistan and India have fought three wars involving thousands of troops on both sides of Kashmir's border, known as the Line of Control. New Delhi has in the past blamed Islamabad for supporting an insurgency movement in the region.