President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the occasion marking their 70^th Independence Anniversary on Monday, August 14, 2017.

Pakistan’s Independence Day, which is annually held on August 14, celebrates the country’s independence from the British rule on that date in 1947. This day is an occasion to promote patriotism and national unity.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, in the message to her Pakistani counterpart, His Excellency Mr. Mamnoon Hussain, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Liberian leader extended warmest congratulations on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, and in her own name on the occasion marking that country’s 70^th Independence Anniversary.

“Pakistan and Liberia have enjoyed a long history of cooperation in human resource development of mid-level Liberian diplomats, which has contributed to closer ties between the two countries,” President Sirleaf noted, adding that the Government of Pakistan can be assured that the Government of Liberia will continue to forge deeper mutually beneficial partnership with Pakistan to strengthen the cordial relations existing between both countries as they both work to improve prosperity for both peoples and lead them to a brighter future.

The Liberian leader said that as Pakistan commemorates another year of Independence, it  is her fervent prayer that the Almighty Allah will continue to strengthen His Excellency Mr. Hussain as he leads his people to noble heights.

In a related development, President Sirleaf also has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of India on the occasion commemorating the 70th Independence Anniversary on Tuesday, August 15, 2017.

August 15 is observed annually as India’s national day commemorating the nation’s independence from the British Empire in 1947. India attained independence following an Independence Movement noted for largely nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress (INC).

Independence coincided with the partition of India, in which the British Indian Empire was divided along religious lines into the Dominions of India and Pakistan; the partition was accompanied by violent riots and mass casualties, and the displacement of nearly 15 million people due to sectarian violence.

On August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, who had become the first Prime Minister of India that day, raised the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi.

In the message to her Indian counterpart, H.E. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, the Liberian President extended heartfelt congratulations and felicitations to the Government and people of India on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name on the occasion of the 70^th Independence Anniversary.

President Sirleaf looked forward to strengthening the already cordial bilateral ties subsisting between both countries for the mutual benefits of our two peoples. “We acknowledge with appreciation the strong partnership between our two countries in the area of capacity building through the ICC Scholarship and the Indian Technical Cooperation Program,” the Liberian leader stressed.

She prayed that President Mukherjee will continue to be endowed with abundant wisdom and strength as he leads his compatriots to greater prosperity.