New Delhi:
In a significant departure from practice and what is being seen as a major diplomatic snub, the Indian government officially boycotted the Pakistan national day reception in New Delhi on Friday evening over an invitation to Kashmiri separatist group Hurriyat.
“The government of India has decided not to send any official representative to the Pakistan National Day event at the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. Hurriyat leaders also did not show up at the reception.
Despite the official boycott in New Delhi, Modi did send formal greetings on Pakistan’s National Day to Pakistan PM Imran Khan.
Although PM Modi did not tweet the message from his official or personal Twitter handles, it was Imran Khan who tweeted Modi’s message to him. “Received message from PM Modi: “I extend my greetings & best wishes to the people of Pakistan on the National Day of Pakistan. It is time that ppl (sic) of subcontinent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive & prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence”
MEA spokesperson Kumar said government’s decision to boycott any official attendance was due to the invitation to the Hurriyat and is seen as part of recent measures against separatist and extremist elements in J&K like the ban on Jamaat-i-Islami and the proscription of Yasin Malik’s JKLF. The Pakistan high commission invites the Hurriyat every year, and despite protests, Indian government sends an official representative.
India’s absence was noted since the event is attended by the diplomatic community in New Delhi. The MEA spokesperson said Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner would not attend any Pakistan Day celebrations in Islamabad either. Indian diplomats have been asked to stay away in every country where Pakistan day is celebrated by its mission.
In the past four years, Union ministers V K Singh, M J Akbar, G S Shekhawat and Prakash Javadekar have been government representatives to the Pakistan day reception.
This time, the Indian government’s move is part of the larger effort to pile pressure on Pakistan after the Pulwama attack.
Despite the official boycott, the PM sent formal greetings to Pakistan PM Imran Khan, who tweeted Modi’s message
No comments:
Post a Comment