New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi may have strong opponents within India, but has found support from an unexpected quarter - Pakistan. According to a report in India Today, many in the neighboring country feel Modi will be a suitable candidate for the PM's position, as he can improve peace and trade between the two countries, which has suffered in the recent times. The report further adds that traders across the border expect a boost in trade if Modi becomes India's top man. According to traders, if Modi comes to power, the trade exchange between India and Pakistan would rise to over USD 5 billion by 2015 from the current USD 3 billion.

The Pakistani media too has been commenting on Modi's rise through the BJP ranks and also on the possibility of him becoming India's next PM. Pakistani columnist Basharat Hussain Qizilbash was quoted by India Today as saying, "It will be interesting to see how this correlation between riots and the BJP works in the upcoming elections. As his party's 'Hindutva' ideology brands Muslims as 'violent', 'criminal' and a 'threat' to Hindus; not only Indian Muslims but Pakistanis too will anxiously watch how the election drama unfolds the fate of Narendra Modi." Although Modi has taken on the Pakistani government for not doing enough to stop cross-border terrorism, administrators across the border say they are ready to work with "anyone who is voted to power". Pakistan's foreign policy adviser Sartaj Aziz was quoted by First Post as saying that "The next government in India is the prerogative of the Indian people. We do not have any favourites. We will be ready to work with Narendra Modi if he is elected the prime minister of India. Or for that matter we will be ready to work with anyone who is voted to power."