ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated his Indian counterpart Atal Behari Vajpayee on his election success on Friday and called for the resumption of peace talks between the rival nuclear powers, reports Reuters.

In a telephone call to Vajpayee. Sharif said the election result was "a vote of trust and confidence reposed in his party besides being a tribute to his personal qualities of leadership." a Pakistan government statement said.

It said Sharif proposed resuming the dialogue that was launched by Vajapyees historic bus trip to the Pakistani city of Lahore in February, but halted in the summer by the twomonth confrontation in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

"He (Sharif) went on to say that the two countries needed to revive the Lahore spirit and restore the Lahore process with a view to framing policies based on the understanding reached in Lahore." the Pakistani statement said.

"The prime minister also reaffirmed his desire that Pakistan and India should establish good neighbourly relations, it added.

The statement quoted Sharif as telling Vajpayee: "Let us join hands to give our people a bright and prosperous future."