Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted his counterpart Nawaz Sharif on Pakistan National Day. He told Sharif that all outstanding issues between the two neighbours can be resolved through bilateral talks in a terror free atmosphere.
Modi tweeted, “It is my firm conviction that all outstanding issues can be resolved through bilateral dialogue in an atmosphere free from terror and violence.”
The remarks came even as seven separatist leaders from Jammu and Kashmir are in the national capital to attend the celebrations at the Pakistan High Commission.
Pakistan envoy to India Abdul Basit has played down the controversy regarding the invitation saying that the Indian government has no objection to the invite being issued.
Basit said, “I don’t think the Indian government objects to us meeting separatists. I request the media to not make an issue out of this.”
Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has also maintained that the Pakistan government is free to invite anyone for the celebrations.
The Opposition has, however, hit out at the government for not protesting the meeting.
Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said, “Pakistan has always used separatists and terror against india. The government must answer if it is right to talk to Pakistan.”