Srinagar, Aug 14: Felicitating the people of India and Pakistan on their Independence Days, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah today appealed to the leadership of the two countries to cement their relations and resolve all outstanding issues between them.
 "We urge leadership of India and Pakistan, who were part of a single country in the past, to work together and try to address all outstanding issues so that the people of the region including Kashmiris could enjoy peace, prosperity and development," Dr Abdullah said in his felicitation message to New Delhi and Islamabad.
 The Union minister said the people of undivided India -- irrespective of creed, cast and religion -- gave supreme sacrifices for the independence of the country and it is our duty to respect the sacrifices and live together peacefully.
 "Peace, communal harmony and living honourably are the hallmark of lively nations," he said, adding, "We need to desist from politics of hatred, communal tension and self interest."
 The people of both the countries especially Kashmiris are desirous of living a peaceful life and want India and Pakistan to further strengthen their friendship, he said.
 Asserting that NC founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah had raised the slogan "Strong Pakistan is in the interest of strong India", Dr Abdullah said his party would continue to work as a bridge between New Delhi and Islamabad.

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