Atal Bihari Vajpayee death: US, Russia, Nepal express grief; Mauritus to fly flag half-mast

Government of Mauritius has decided that both Indian and Mauritian flag will fly half-mast on government buildings today.

Image tweeted by @MEAIndia

New Delhi: As the news about the sad demise of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee spreads across boundaries, foreign leaders pour their condolences at the tragic event. Atal Bihari who has served as Indian PM thrice, was appointed the Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister Morarji Desai's cabinet back in 1977. As foreign minister, that year Vajpayee became the first person to deliver a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi. The admirers of Vajpayee’s charismatic persona were not limited to Indian boundaries, and that is why it is not only India that is mourning the death of Vajpayee. United States: US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has said while condoling the death of the  former Prime Minister. "On behalf of the people of the United States of America, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the people of India on the recent passing of Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee," Pompeo said in a statement yesterday. Vajpayee "recognized early on that the United States and India, based on their shared democratic values, could develop a partnership that would contribute to the economic prosperity and security of the region and the world. Today, our two countries and our bilateral relationship continue to benefit from Prime Minister Vajpayee's vision, which helped promote expanded cooperation," Pompeo said. Britain British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith said: “ We are saddened by the passing of former PM of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee. We will remember him as one of India’s greatest leaders. Shri Vajpayee was much respected in the UK as a statesman par excellence: British High Commissioner to India.

He was an enormously important person who we have great respect for and it's a great loss for India. I wanted to pay my respects to a man of that stature: Dominic Asquith, British High Commissioner to India #AtalBihariVajpayee pic.twitter.com/wQYq86y2ZG

— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018

Russia: As per the website of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin sent a message of condolences to President of India Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on the passing of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, outstanding statesman and former prime minister of India. The message reads in parts: “Atal Bihari Vajpayee rightly commanded great respect around the world. He will be remembered as a politician who made a major personal contribution to the friendly relations and privileged strategic partnership between our countries.” Bangladesh: Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina said that it is a day of ‘great sadness for the people of Bangladesh. Expressing deep shock over Vajpayee’s demise, Hasina said he will be remembered for contributing towards good governance and for highlighting issues affecting the common people of India as well as for regional peace and prosperity. "Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was our great friend and highly respected in Bangladesh. As a token of recognition for his invaluable contribution to our Liberation War in 1971, Bangladesh Government conferred on him the Bangladesh Liberation War Honour. Today is certainly a day of great sadness for all of us in Bangladesh," she said in her message. Nepal: Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli expressed his grief in letter to PM Narendra Modi. He also took to Twitter to condole the death of the former Indian PM .

I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace! pic.twitter.com/ncjzW6pxw7

— KP Sharma Oli (@PM_Nepal) August 16, 2018

Pakistan: Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) spokesman said in a statement that "we have learnt with sadness the passing away of Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was a renowned statesman who contributed to bringing a change in India-Pakistan relations and remained a key supporter of SAARC and regional cooperation for development," the spokesman said. Pakistan’s PM in waiting Imran Khan said in a statement: “Efforts of Mr. Vajpayee for improvement in relations between Pakistan and India will be remembered forever.” He further said, “ As a foreign minister, Vajpayee strived to open up ways towards normalisation of relations among neighbouring states and had successfully taken this agenda to new heights after assuming the office of prime minister," I extend sympathies to the people of India in this hour of grief". He added that by creating peace between the two countries, "we can truly recognise the service of Vajpayee". Sri Lanka: President of Sri Lanka tweeted: “Today, we have lost a great humanist and a true friend of Sri Lanka. Former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a visionary leader and an ardent defender of democracy. My condolences to his family and millions of his admirers around the world.”

Today, we have lost a great humanist and a true friend of Sri Lanka. Former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a visionary leader and an ardent defender of democracy. My condolences to his family and millions of his admirers around the world. #AtalBihariVajpayee

— Maithripala Sirisena (@MaithripalaS) August 16, 2018

Mauritius:  The Government of Mauritius has decided that both Indian and Mauritian flag will fly half-mast on government buildings today.

Joining us in our moment of grief! In an unprecedented gesture, the Government of #Mauritius has decided that both Indian and Mauritian flag will fly half-mast on government buildings today as a mark of respect following the sad demise of former PM Vajpayee. pic.twitter.com/qn8ZA38tT2

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) August 17, 2018

(With inputs from agencies)