India, Aug. 17 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday thanked his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for his greetings on India's 80th Independence Day, and hoped the bilateral special strategic partnership grows even stronger, unlocking new opportunities and forging deeper people-to-people connections.

Modi also conveyed his gratitude to French President Emmanuel Macron, Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay among others for their wishes on India's Independence Day.

In his message, Netanyahu congratulated India and "my dear friend" Prime Minister Modi on the country's 80th Independence Day.

The Israeli prime minister noted that India and Israel achieved independence one year apart and both...