India has decided not to send any official representative to attend the Pakistan National Day celebrations scheduled to be held at the Pakistan High Commission here on Friday, government sources said. Sources added that the decision was taken by the Indian government amid reports that Pakistan has invited separatist leaders from Jammu and Kashmir to attend the event.
Pakistan Day is celebrated to mark the Lahore Resolution on March 23 each year. The Lahore Resolution, which is also called Pakistan Resolution, passed on March 23, 1940, is considered a major milestone in the Muslim struggle for an independent Muslim state which was later called Pakistan.
“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.In view of Government of India’s stance, Government officials are expected to stay away from the event,” sources added.
Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood returned to New Delhi on March 9 after he was recalled to Islamabad for consultations in the wake of escalating tension between the two neighbouring countries following the Pulwama terror attack.
In the last few years, India has sent Minister of state in the ministry of external affairs Gen VK Singh, former minister of state in the ministry of external affairs MJ Akbar and minister of state in agriculture ministry Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as its representatives to the national day celebrations.
This year Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be the chief guest at the Pakistan Day Parade in Islamabad.