Dubai, Jan 28 (IANS): Celebrating the 65th Republic Day of India, India's representative to Palestine B.S. Mubarak said India welcomes the peace talks between Palestine and Israel.

India hoped the peace talks between Palestine and Israel would lead to an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, Mubarak said in Ramallah 15 km from Jerusalem, where the Republic Day event was held Monday.

“We welcome the resumption of peace talks between the Palestinian and Israeli sides and remain hopeful that the negotiations would lead to a final resolution resulting in a sovereign, independent state of Palestine,” WAFA, the Palestine news agency, quoted Mubarak as saying.

He said that his country would always stand by Palestine and be an ally to it until the country achieved its goal of gaining independence.

Nabil Shaath, a member of the Fatah Central Committee, the highest decision-making body in Palestine, congratulated India on this occasion.

“On behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas and all the people of Palestine I convey our congratulations and best wishes for a long future of prosperity, independence, democracy, and social justice for India and its people,” Shaath said speaking at the event.

“We have given the world a clear vision that we are really for peace anytime there is an opportunity to work for peace,” he said.

“Our friendship with India goes back to before its independence during its struggle -- the people of Palestine will continue to rely on India’s great support in our continued quest to reach our own peace, independence, and democracy, and to have our state recognised by everybody,” Shaath added.