Modi greets Imran on Pak Day, calls for end to terror

NEW DELHI: As India and Pakistan look to build upon the recent ceasefire agreement, PM Narendra Modi Tuesday wrote to his counterpart Imran Khan and extended greetings to the neighbouring country on the occasion of Pakistan National Day and underlined that an environment free of terror was imperative for improvement in ties.

“As a neighbouring country, India desires cordial relations with the people of Pakistan. For this, an environment of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is imperative,” Modi said in his message to Khan.

Sources said the PM had sent a similar message to the Pakistani PM last year on Pakistan’s Independence Day, making the same point about the need for a terror-free environment. Modi had also wished Khan speedy recovery from Covid a few days ago.

The recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan has sparked hope of a thaw in ties. Modi in his letter said at this difficult time for humanity, he would like to convey his best wishes to Khan and the people of Pakistan for dealing with the challenges of Covid.

As the Pakistani mission here celebrated Pakistan Day on Tuesday, charge d’affaires Aftab Hasan Khan too said Pakistan wanted friendly ties with India and that it was important to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, through dialogue to achieve peace.

Imran Khan and Army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa have reached out to India in the recent past with the latter saying earlier this month that it was time to bury the past and move forward. While India too has toned down the rhetoric on terrorism, it wants to wait and see if the ceasefire holds before taking any decisive step to resume bilateral exchanges. According to a Pakistani high commission statement, Aftab Khan said for the larger interest of the region, peace within South Asia was “inevitable”.