The government of India has decided not to send an official representative to the Pakistan National Day event in New Delhi on Friday.
According to the sources the government took the decision for not sending any representative to the reception because Hurriyat leaders have also been invited by Pakistan.
The Pakistan National Day is observed every year on March 23, however, the Pakistan high commission is hosting the reception this year on March 22.
Sources said India had strongly objected to Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi telephoning Hurriyat leaders ahead of an event organised in London to mark Islamabad’s solidarity with a Kashmir-related event.
Previously, Indian political representatives who have attended Pakistan’s National Day events include the minister of State for external affairs V.K. Singh and minister of state for agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as well as former minister of state for external affairs M.J Akbar.
