British monarch Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Gordon Brown on behalf of the people of the United Kingdom have congratulated Pakistan on the 60th anniversary of its independence on Tuesday. The Queen, who visited Pakistan ten years ago during the 50th anniversary celebrations, sent a personal message to the President General Pervez Musharraf.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband also sent his best wishes on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of independence to his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri. A press release issued by Foreign and Commonwealth Office said Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his message to Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz stated:
"Today marks the 60th anniversary of Pakistan becoming a nation in its own right. I congratulate this great country; and send my best wishes from the British people. I celebrate the strength of the UK-Pakistan relationship. Our history, values and hopes are, and will remain, permanently intertwined." Sixty years on from independence, the UK and Pakistan enjoy a flourishing, modern relationship that Miliband called "a partnership of equals" during his visit to Pakistan last month, part of his first trip outside Europe since becoming Foreign Secretary.
The UK benefits from the significant contribution to its society made by the 800,000 British citizens of Pakistani origin, and has signalled its long-term commitment to the development of Pakistan by announcing a doubling of its aid to 480 million pounds over the next three years.