File photo of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. (Associated Press)
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of the country's most-respected politicians, was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, today.
In a letter dated December 26, 2014, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated Mr Vajpayee and the Indian government announced its decision to confer the Bharat Ratna on Mr Vajpayee. Here's the full text of the letter: