Committed to consolidating ties with US: Pak PM Sharif

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that he is committed to consolidating his country's fraught relations with the US.

Sharif conveyed "heartfelt felicitations" to President Barack Obama on the American Independence Day. According to an official statement, in a letter addressed to Obama, Sharif said that Pakistan and US were are bound by "ideals of freedom, democracy and human rights".

"We are committed to consolidating this relationship into a broad and enduring partnership," he said. He also said that Pakistan will continue to adhere to further strengthening bilateral and beneficial relations and enhanced cooperation to the benefit of the two peoples. He wished the American people continued progress and prosperity.

"Pakistan values the confidence and understanding that exists at the leadership level between our two countries," he said. Pakistan-US relations have been through many ups and downs and are still recovering from the aftermath of the secret raid by US Navy SEALs in Abbottabad in 2011 that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. Increasing closeness between US and India has also added to further strains on ties between Washington and Islamabad.

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