Pakistani Prime Minister Calls for Good Relations With India

Good relations between New Delhi and Islamabad will benefit both countries, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Saturday, greeting India on its 69th Independence Day.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — The message comes a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sharif on the occasion of 69th Independence Day of Pakistan, which was celebrated on Friday. Both countries won the independence from the British Empire on August 15, 1947.

"I would like to reiterate that promoting friendly, cooperative and good neighborly relations between our two countries is in our mutual interest and also necessary for peace and prosperity in South Asia," Sharif said in a message to Modi.

"We in Pakistan sincerely hope to settle all our bilateral issues through a sustained and comprehensive dialogue and user a new era of mutual trust and cooperation," Sharif added.

There has been an escalation of tension between the two countries following renewed violence in the Indian-administered border region of Kashmir and Jammu despite a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan.

On August 23, national security advisers from both countries are scheduled to meet in New Delhi to discuss terrorism-related issues.

The region of Jammu and Kashmir has been disputed by India and Pakistan following the dissolution of British India and the establishment of the two countries as independent states in 1947.

Following four wars and a number of military conflicts, India and Pakistan agreed to cease hostilities in 2003. Nevertheless, the ceasefire has not been strictly observed and both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce.