Nawaz Sharif greets PM Narendra Modi on R-Day, seeks friendly ties with India

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on Monday greeted his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the occasion of 66th Republic Day of India, wishing its people prosperity. Sharif also pledged to develop friendly relations with India on the basis of "sovereign equality, mutual respect and commonality of interests".

New Delhi: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on Monday greeted his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the occasion of 66th Republic Day of India and sought to forge friendly ties between the two countries.

"Pakistan remains committed to developing friendly relations with India on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect and commonality of interests,” Sharif said in a message to PM Modi while greeting India on its 66th Republic Day.

Sharif further said in the message, ”On behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan, and on my own behalf, I would like to convey our warm felicitations to you, your Government, and the people of India, on the happy occasion of India’s 66th Republic Day.”

"In wishing the people of India progress and prosperity, it is our sincere wish to forge friendly and cooperative relations between our two countries. We believe that our two Governments can work together towards the development of our countries, the well being of our people, and achieving our common goal of peaceful and prosperous South Asia," he added.

"I avail myself of this opportunity to convey my best wishes to you, and for the happiness and prosperity of the people of India,” Sharif said.

India and Pakistan have been involved in a war of words following New Delhi's cancelation of the Foreign Secretary- level meeting in August last year after Pakistan's envoy in India met Kashmiri separatists ahead of the talks.

Meanwhile, the Indian and Pakistani armies exchanged sweets on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said, IANS reported.

Republic Day was today celebrated across India with gaiety and patriotic fervour, as leaders stressed the need of rooting out corruption and working for development while asking insurgents to shun violence.

Barack Obama became the first US president to attend the spectacular military and cultural display of India's Repblic Day celebrations, in a sign of the nations` growing closeness.

Thousands of cheering spectators braved wet weather and heavy security to watch the parade, which marks the birth of modern India and includes everything from tanks and state-of-the-art weaponry to camels and traditional dancers.

However, a seven-layer security ring was thrown around the VVIP enclosure on Rajpath from where US President Barack Obama, President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with a host of other dignitaries witnessed the Republic Day parade.

(With Agency inputs)