As Pakistan celebrates a landmark parliamentary election, its neighbour - and sometimes rival - India is also bullish about the future.
New Dehli says it's looking forward to working with Nawaz Sharif, whose party looks set to form Pakistan's next government.
Indian foreign minister Salman Khurshid says he thinks bilateral ties between the two countries will be strengthened.
Meanwhile, Afghan officials said they hoped Pakistan's new president would address head on the issue of safe havens for insurgents along the porous border between the two countries.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, JANAN MOSAZAI, SAYING:
"We very much hope that the next government in Pakistan will pave the way for sincere and result orientated cooperation with Afghanistan, especially when it comes to the need for both countries to work together honestly and in a practical manner to eliminate the sanctuaries and safe havens that exist for terrorists in Pakistan.
