Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal, Sohail Amin, has said friendship between Pakistan and Nepal is based on the shared interest of protecting our sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as ensuring relations with all countries on the basis of the principles of peaceful co-existence.

In a message issued on the occasion of the National Day of Pakistan on Thursday, Amin said both the countries share similar views on most of the regional and global issues and enjoy bilateral relations free of any tensions or differences. “Pakistan remains committed to further strengthen these relations with HMG and people of Nepal in all fields,” he said.

In his message, the Pakistani envoy recalled the devastating earthquake that hit parts of Pakistan on 8 October 2005 killing more than 80,000 people. He thanked the international community for its generous support in relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction works and also thanked Nepal for their sympathy and support for the earthquake victims.

The envoy further said Pakistan is now a key player in the comity of nations, committed to ensuring peace and security in its neighbourhood and friendship based on sovereign equality with all States. “Pakistan is in the forefront of war against international terrorism,” he added.

Pakistan observes March 23 as its National Day in commemoration of the Lahore meeting on that very day in 1940 that passed a resolution to establish a separate homeland for Muslims of South Asia. Seven years later an independent Pakistan was born with the partition of British India.