Updated

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry is saying that Islamabad welcomes U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's overtures, saying that Trump told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that Pakistan is "amazing" and its citizens are "one of the most intelligent people."

Trump's transition team offered few details about the Wednesday conversation with Sharif. A three-sentence statement called the conversation "productive" and said Trump is "looking forward to a lasting and strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Sharif."

But a statement from the Pakistani government quoted Trump as saying that he would "love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people."

It said Trump asked Sharif to convey his message to the Pakistani people that "they are amazing and all Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people."