‘Ties with Pak only sans terror shadow’
Amid unease in Indo-Pak ties for the past several months, President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday reiterated that India is committed to building ties with Pakistan in an environment free from terror and violence.
The President said this in his message to his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain on the eve of the neighbouring nation’s day on Thursday.
“On behalf of the government, the people of India and on my own behalf, I extend greetings to you and to the friendly people of Pakistan on the occasion of your National Day,” the President said.
“India is committed to building ties with Pakistan in an environment free from terror and violence,” he said.
The President’s missive comes amid unease in Indo-Pak ties following a series of terrorist attacks on Army camps and tension along the border due to frequent ceasefire violations.
The last official dialogue between the two countries was held in December 2015 when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj travelled to Islamabad and the two sides decided to resume comprehensive talks.
However, the thaw was
short-lived as Pakistanbased Jaish-eMohammed militant group struck at strategically located Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, Punjab, on January 1 last year.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh had visited Islamabad in 2016 to attend the Saarc interior ministers conference but there was no bilateral engagement between the two countries.