World leaders extend greetings to Pakistan on Independence Day, hail bilateral ties

Felicitations poured in from other nations on Friday as Pakistan celebrated 79 years of independence. World leaders and diplomats, from the Iranian president to US State Secretary Marco Rubio, not just wished Pakistan and its people on the country’s 80th Independence Day, but also took the opportunity to hail Islamabad’s ties with their countries. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated President Asif Ali Zardari, wishing the government and people of Pakistan steady progress and prosperity, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). King Salman also praised the “strong relations” between the two countries, highlighting the “shared commitment to advancing cooperation across all fields”, SPA reported. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a message to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, described Pakistan’s Independence Day as a valuable opportunity to honour the achievements of the nation, reaffirming Tehran’s firm resolve to further strengthen its relations with Pakistan, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported. He also expressed “readiness to take more effective steps to advance bilateral ties” and “secure the common interests of both sides”, the report said. It added that Pezeshkian noted that the “shared interests of the Iranian and Pakistani nations have become inextricably interwoven, a reality that underscores the need for greater synergy and closer cooperation” and stressed that a “new turning point has begun in deepening and expanding the longstanding and strategic relations” between Tehran and Islamabad. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi congratulated his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, according to IRNA. The state-run Iranian news agency reported that Araghchi said that continued political consultations and the strengthening of economic, trade, border, security, and cultural cooperation between the two countries would pave the way to leverage existing capacities and secure their shared interests. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his message on Pakistan’s Independence Day, appreciated “the partnership between our nations and the bonds of friendship between our peoples”. “Together, through our cooperation on regional mediation, critical minerals, energy, counterterrorism, cultural heritage, and trade and investment, we are turning potential into progress and delivering real results for Americans and Pakistanis alike,” Rubio said. In Islamabad, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker met Dar and congratulated him.

Turkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz also congratulated Pakistan and posted on X: “Our relations with Pakistan are based on an exceptional brotherhood nourished by our shared history, common values, and our determination to stand by each other in difficult times”. He noted that the recent defence agreement between Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had “added a new dimension” to relations between Ankara and Islamabad.

Turkiye’s foreign ministry also extended felicitations to the “friendly and brotherly Pakistan”.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a message to President Zardari, congratulated Pakistan on Independence Day, the Qatar News Agency reported.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a phone call with Dar and “extended warm greetings on Pakistan’s Independence Day to the leadership, government and people of Pakistan, and conveyed his best wishes for continued peace, progress and prosperity,” the FO said in another post.

Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, met Dar, congratulated him and reaffirmed the “close and time-tested ties between” Islamabad and China, according to the FO.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated President Zardari and PM Shehbaz, commending Pakistan-Russia relations. “I am confident that we will continue our constructive joint efforts to further strengthen the entire spectrum of our partnership for the benefit of the friendly peoples of Russia and Pakistan, and in the interests of enhancing international security and stability,” a post on the Russian embassy’s X account quoted him as saying.

UK High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott, in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, “conveyed warm wishes” on Pakistan’s Independence Day, the Foreign Office (FO) said on X.

Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tarik and Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah congratulated Pakistan in their messages to President Zardari.

Somalia’s Foreign Ministry also extended congratulations to Pakistan. In a post on X, the ministry said, “The Federal Republic of Somalia congratulates the government and people of Pakistan on their 79th Independence anniversary, reaffirming our commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and friendship between our two nations”.

Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement posted on X, congratulated the Pakistani government and people, adding that “Romania remains committed to further strengthening our bilateral relations, including under the EU-Pakistan framework”.

Georgia, meanwhile, expressed its “cordial wishes for peace and prosperity of Pakistani people”, adding that it was looking forward to “further advancing our friendly relations”.

Azerbaijan also extended “heartfelt congratulations to the brotherly people and the government of Pakistan”.