PM felicitates Obama on US Independence Day

Prime Minister says Pakistan and America are bound by ideals of freedom, democracy and human rights

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has conveyed his heartfelt felicitations to the US President Barack Obama and Americans on their Independence Day on Saturday.

In a letter to the US president, the prime minister said Pakistani and American nations are bound by ideals of freedom, democracy and human rights. “We are committed to consolidating this relationship into an enduring partnership,” he said.

The prime minister assured that Pakistan will continue strengthening bilateral relations and enhanced co-operation to the benefit of the countries.

He also wished progress and prosperity for the people of the United States. “Pakistan values the confidence and understanding that exists at the leadership level between the two countries,” he said.

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Millions of Americans readied on Saturday for Independence Day  parades and firework shows amid worries over possible security threats, a spike in shark attacks on East Coast beaches and the danger of wildfires in the West, Reuters reported.

The US Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation had issued an alert asking local authorities and the public to remain vigilant for possible threats following recent calls for violence by Islamic State leaders.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered increased monitoring statewide for the holiday weekend under the direction of the New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. In New York City, the nation's biggest police force assigned about 7,000 officers and nearly all its counterterrorism personnel to handle security around Independence Day events.

"We're constantly seeking to be creative, to be proactive and not just be preparing to respond if something happens," New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said this week. "The name of the game is to prevent it." Hundreds of thousands of people were expected to flood the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for a parade, concerts, and a fireworks display that uses 6,500 shells.