Islamabad/New Delhi: Amid the escalated tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama attack and the subsequent air strikes by India on a JeM terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan greetings on the eve of Pakistan's National Day, sources said. 

In this message, according to the Pak PM’s tweet, PM Modi said: “It is time that ppl (people) of Sub-continent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive & prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence”.

Imran Khan further tweeted that he welcomes PM Modi's message and that he believes it is time to begin a comprehensive dialogue with India to address and resolve all issues. He said the two countries "need to forge a new relationship based on peace and prosperity for all our people."

News of PM Modi’s message came hours after the External Affairs Ministry announced that the government would skip the Pakistan National Day reception held in New Delhi after Islamabad did not get respond to concern over its invitation to Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat Conference representatives.

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Pakistan Day, which commemorates both the passing of the Lahore Resolution on creating an independent country for the Muslims of British India in 1940 and the adoption of Pakistan’s first Constitution in 1956, is observed every year on March 23.