New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that India and Pakistan should move forward in their relationship and remove mutual mistrust as governments in both the countries had received a strong electoral mandate.
Sharif conveyed this to President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday during his meeting before returning to Pakistan. The President expressed his appreciation of the "gracious response" of Sharif to accept the invitation to attend the oath-taking of Narendra Modi as PM despite the short notice, Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman Venu Rajamony said in a statement on Wednesday.
Mukherjee said that it has always been India's desire to build peaceful, friendly and co-operative ties with Pakistan and this will continue to be the policy of the new government.
"Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he considers it a personal privilege to be in India. The governments in both the countries have a strong mandate and this is a historic moment for both the countries to move forward in the relationship and remove the mistrust," he said.
Mukherjee said that efforts should be made to open up trade and economic co-operation. "This is an opportunity and a historic moment which should not be missed," he said. Mukherjee also met Presidents Hamid Karzai (Afghanistan), Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom (Maldives) and Mahindra Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka).
Besides, Prime Ministers Navinchandra Ramgoolam (Mauritius), Sushil Koirala (Nepal) and Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay (Bhutan) and Speaker of Bangladesh parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury also called on the President. These leaders had come to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Modi as the 15th Prime Minister of the country on May 26.
Welcoming Karzai, Mukherjee said that India s political leadership, cutting across party lines, greatly values Afghanistan s friendship with India and recognizes his personal efforts to develop "our strategic partnership".
"India will remain committed to the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan. India sees a prosperous, independent and sovereign Afghanistan as being of vital interest to India," Mukherjee said.
Describing India-Afghanistan relations as "strong and deep", Karzai expressed confidence that the new government in Afghanistan will continue to strengthen the close ties.
The Sri Lankan President said inviting leaders from countries of South Asia was an important message of friendship to the entire region. Welcoming Rajapaksa, Mukherjee said the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka should be utilized to create a lasting political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. "The resumption of dialogue and meaningful devolution of powers would contribute towards this," the President was quoted as having said.
Welcoming Abdulla Yameen, Mukherjee said that bilateral relations between India and Maldives are exemplified by close cooperation in a wide range of areas encompassing economic, security, defence and people-to-people ties. "India looks forward to economic growth and development in the region with close integration of India and Maldives economies for mutual benefit," he said.
Maldives President said India has been one of its closest friends and allies since independence and assured that Maldives will closely co-operate with India. He also expressed the confidence that India-Maldives relations will grow from strength-to-strength.
Mukherjeee welcomed the Nepalese Prime Minister and said that India stands ready to support the Nepalese government and people. "Whilst the challenges of the Constitution-drafting are ultimately for Nepal's political parties and people to overcome and settle, as a close friend and neighbour, India stands ready to support the government and people of Nepal in their historic endeavours," he said.
The Nepalese Prime Minister apprised the President of the Constitution-making process in his country. Bangladesh Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said her country has always attached a different value and priority to relations with India. The President remarked that India and Bangladesh had made considerable progress in bilateral relations and the two countries must sustain and accelerate the current momentum in all areas of cooperation.
During a call-on by the Bhutanese Prime Minister, Mukherhee talked about historical and cultural linkage between the two countries and said the security concerns of both India and Bhutan are "intricately intertwined and indivisble". He said relations between the two countries are based on shared strategic perceptions, utmost trust, transparency and sensitivity to each other s concerns and vital interests.
The Bhutanese Prime Minister said the relationship between the two countries have stood the test of time and had been nurtured by the leaders of the two countries. "The future and security of the two countries are interwined. Bhutan is grateful to India for all the assistance provided for its economic development," he was quoted as having conveyed to the President. Navinchandra Ramgoolam said he looked forward to the relationship between the two countries ascending new heights.
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