India boycotts Pak Day event as Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders invited

The government Friday decided to boycott the Pakistan National Day event to be held at its high commission here as Kashmiri separatist leaders were also invited, an official said.

Over the past few years, India’s representation at theannual event has been at the level of a union minister.

   

This year, Indian government officials will stay away fromthe reception scheduled on the eve of Pakistan National Day, which iscelebrated on March 23, the official said.

“The government of India has decided not to send anyofficial representative to the Pakistan National Day event at the Pakistan HighCommission in New Delhi,” the official said.

The decision has been taken because Pakistan has decided toinvite separatist Hurriyat leaders from Jammu and Kashmir to the event, theofficial added.

The decision comes in the wake of heightened tension betweenthe two nuclear-armed neighbours after the Pulwama attack and subsequent airstrikes.

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