NEW DELHI, Aug 15: Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee have greeted their counterparts, President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day, saying the two countries should put behind the climate of mistrust.

In his message to Gen Musharraf, President Kalam said: “India is committed to the improvement of relations with Pakistan and to establish a relationship of trust, friendship and cooperation, based on the Simla Accord and Lahore Declaration.”

Viewing that the “positive momentum” generated in bilateral relations in recent past should be consolidated and carried forward, President Kalam said: “The menace of terrorism poses a threat to our societies and we should unitedly fight it.”

Mr Vajpayee, in his message to Mr Jamali, said: “Our countries can put behind the climate of mistrust and suspicion and move towards peaceful and fruitful cooperation.”—APP