Citing sources, the local and Indian media said the Indian premier conveyed his felicitations via a letter written to Prime Minister Sharif.
The letter read that the Indian government holds maintaining strong ties with all neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, as its top priority, Geo News reported quoting its sources.
"India wants such relations in an atmosphere free of terrorism and enmity," it added.
It is pertinent to mention here that, The 77th Pakistan Day was celebrated under tight security across the country with national zeal. The day dawned with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salutes in the provincial capitals.
The important feature of the day was the joint military parade, which was held at the Parade Ground near the Shakarparian hills. This is the first time that tri services of People’s Liberation Army of China, contingents from Saudi Special Force and the Turkish band, popularly known as ‘Mehteran’ participated in the military parade.
Prime Minister Sharif, Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sohail Aman and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also witnessed the parade. Chief of South African National Defence Force General Solly Zacharia was also present on the occasion.
The ceremony commenced with the singing of the national anthem, after which President Mamnoon Hussain inspected the parade from a jeep.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, led the flypast of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy aviation in an F-16 plane. Later, the formations of F-16, JF-17 thunder, Mirage, AWACs, P3-C Orion and F-7 presented salute to the chief guest by flying over the dais during the ceremony.
Troops which took part in the parade included contingents of the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, 18 Punjab Regiment, 21 Frontier Force Regiment, 10 Northern Light Infantry Regiment, 760 Mujahid Battalion, Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Rangers Punjab, paratroopers, Pakistan police (represented by the Islamabad Police), Tri Services Lady Officers, Tri Services Armed Forces Nursing Services, Boy Scouts, Pakistan Girl Guides, Special Services Group (SSG) and bodyguards of President.
Mechanised columns of Armoured Corps, Artillery, Army Air Defence, Signals, Engineers, Army Strategic Force Command also participated. Floats displaying the culture of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir took part in the ceremony. Para-gliders stunned the crowd with their exhilarating skills.