The United States yesterday welcomed the election of a new prime minister in Pakistan eyeing an end to the political upheaval in its key, but wary regional Asian ally. MPs elected Raja Pervez Ashraf as Pakistan’s new prime minister on Friday, seeking to end a crisis sparked by judges ousting the premier and demanding the arrest of his would-be successor. “We are pleased that the leadership issue appears to have been settled,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. “We obviously look forward to working with the new prime minister and hope that this will open space to continue to roll up our sleeves and get back on track with all of the things that we want to do with Pakistan.” Ties between Washington and Islamabad have hit an all-time low following a series of events in 2011, including the killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a US commando raid on his Pakistani compound. A botched Nato attack in November in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed led Islamabad to shut down its border crossings into Afghanistan to US supply trucks, hampering the US and Nato effort against the Taliban. Talks to reopen the crossings — vital as the US draws down its forces in neighbouring Afghanistan — have so far made little progress. In his first speech to parliament shortly after his election, Ashraf promised to develop “cordial relations” with the United States. “We will develop cordial relations with United States and international community on the basis of equal rights and dignity,” he said, without mentioning reopening the supply routes. Meanwhile, India’s prime minister has welcomed the appointment of new counterpart in Pakistan and said that he was “confident” of strengthening ties between the two neighbours. India chose to refrain from commenting on Pakistan’s internal crisis, sparked by judges ousting ex-Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani over contempt charges and demanding the arrest of the first candidate to be nominated as his successor. On Friday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated his Pakistani counterpart. “Our two countries will continue to make progress in their bilateral dialogue...(and) build good neighbourly relations by strengthening their cooperation in all areas for the benefit of the peoples of both countries,” he said. Relations between India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars since the subcontinent was partitioned in 1947, have been plagued by border disputes, and accusations of Pakistani militant activity against India. The neighbours are still at loggerheads on the divided Himalayan territory of Kashmir and no closer to a full peace deal, but are channelling their efforts into increasing trade in the hope that business can bring them together. Last month, they also agreed to enhance co-operation on terrorism, human trafficking, narcotics, counterfeit currency and cyber crime.Ashraf faces a tough road ahead after taking oath as the 25th prime minister of Pakistan, with the country’s electricity crisis and power riots being the main challenge of his premiership.For the same reason, the newly elected prime minister yesterday called an important meeting on the energy crisis - one of his first tasks on his first day in office.The meeting, to be attended by members of the federal cabinet’s energy committee and officials of concerned authorities, will discuss strategies to overcome the crisis plaguing the country.According to PM House officials, some important decisions are expected during the meeting.Many have dubbed the coalition’s choice for prime minister as a controversial one. The new PM faces a steep road as he sets out to resolve pressing issues faced by the government - some that he himself is widely blamed for.Ashraf is currently fighting a corruption case from his tenure as water and power minister. He has also been blamed for much of the government’s inability to resolve a disastrous energy crisis.Shortly after being elected, Ashraf had said that his focus was the power crisis, which he promised to resolve despite being widely criticised for incompetence while at the power ministry from March 2008 to February 2011.“Our first priority will be to resolve the power crisis,” he said. “I hope soon we will find a solution.”Ashraf may also come under immediate pressure from the Supreme Court to write to Swiss authorities, asking them to reopen corruption investigations into President Asif Ali Zardari - refusal for which saw Gilani convicted of contempt.Most members of the new federal cabinet held on to their old portfolios after being sworn in on Friday. A notification in this regards was issued.Twenty-seven new federal ministers and 11 new ministers for state took oath. AFP