Pakistan President vows tensions-free ties with India

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain used his speech on the Independence Day on Friday to reiterate his country's quest for tensions-free relations with neighboring India.

Hussain's remarks come amidst tensions between the neighbors over the cross-border shelling in recent days that caused casualties on both sides.

Top national security advisers of Pakistan and India will meet in New Delhi later this month to discuss anti-terrorism cooperation including measures to check the escalation of tensions along the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region.

President Mamnoon Hussain said Pakistan desires peaceful coexistence with India and all other neighboring countries but any "threat to its security will be thwarted."

Addressing the National Flag hoisting ceremony to mark the Independence Day celebrations in Islamabad, he however regretted what he called the "acts of aggression" on the eastern borders with India.

Pakistan and India had declared a ceasefire in 2003 and guns had relatively silent on the LoC that divide the two countries in Kashmir; however, both sides occasionally exchange fire. Both accuse each other of violation of the ceasefire.

"Pakistan is pursuing a bold and effective foreign policy as a result of which its image has improved in the comity of nations," President Hussain told a largely-attended gathering.

Earlier, the president, along with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, hoisted the national flag. The flag hoisting ceremony featured national songs and documentaries on the progress made by the country in different sectors.

The ceremony was also attended amongst others by the federal ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, military leaders.

Talking about the ongoing war on terror, the president said Pakistan is in the midst of a war against terrorism, adding the terrorists and those working on the agenda of foreign enemies are trying to sabotage the peace in the country.

The government and the armed forces have launched a robust campaign against the terrorists, which has started showing positive results. He declared that this campaign against terrorists will continue till elimination of the menace.

He said the entire nation stands by the government and the armed forces in this war against terrorists who are on the run now. He hoped that this problem will be overcome in a short span of time. He paid rich tributes to the sacrifices rendered by the security personnel and the people in the war against this menace.