New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Aug 28, 2004) felicitated his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz on his assumption of office and hoped that the two countries can build upon recent positive developments and take forward the process of dialogue in an atmosphere free from terrorism and violence.

In a letter to Aziz, technocrat-turned-politician and a close ally of President Pervez Musharraf, Singh reaffirmed UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government's commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Pakistan.