Received message from PM Modi, tweets Imran Khan on eve of Pak National Day
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his greetings to Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan on the eve of Pakistan National Day on Friday, and highlighting the message of peace and calling upon people in the sub-continent to work together “in an atmosphere free of terror and violence”.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Khan, in a tweet, welcome Modi's message and said the time has come to begin a comprehensive dialogue between the two countries to address and resolve all issues, including Kashmir.
Khan added that the two countries "need to forge a new relationship based on peace and prosperity for all our people."
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted:
Received msg from PM Modi: "I extend my greetings & best wishes to the people of Pakistan on the National Day of Pakistan. It is time that ppl of Sub-continent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive & prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence"
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 22, 2019
India has made it clear to Pakistan that cross-border terror attacks and talks cannot go hand in hand. India last year called off a planned meeting of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York after blaming Pakistan-based entities for killing of three special police officers in Kashmir.
Significantly, India on Friday boycotted a reception at the Pakistan High Commission here to mark Pakistan's National Day, objecting to invites extended to several separatist leaders from Jammu and Kashmir for the event.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar informed that no representative of the Indian High Commission will also attend the reception to be held in Islamabad on Saturday.
“We are very clear that any attempt by the Pakistan high commission or the Pakistani leadership to engage with the Hurriyat representatives will not be taken lightly and this is what we’ve said in the past as well,” Kumar added.
The official sources in New Delhi said the prime minister sends a customary message on National Days to other heads of state and government and added that his message to Khan highlighted the importance of a terror-free South Asia.
Every year on March 23, Pakistan celebrates its National Day commemorating the Lahore Resolution passed on March 23, 1940 and the adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan on March 23, 1956.
(With PTI inputs)
