The Centre on Friday had decided to boycott the Pakistan National Day event at its high commission in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday reportedly extended his greetings to his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan.
Taking to Twitter, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief said that he received a message from PM Modi on the occasion. “I extend my greetings and best wishes to the people of Pakistan on the National Day of Pakistan. It is time that the people of the sub-continent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive and prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence,” PM Modi reportedly told Khan.
Received msg 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 of Sub-continent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive & prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence”
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 22, 2019
While Islamabad will celebrate the day tomorrow, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi organized events today, a day earlier. India, however, did not send any representatives to the event as separatists from Jammu and Kashmir were also invited.
“The decision was taken after Pakistan High Commission decided to call Hurriyat leader to the reception. In February we were very clear, any attempt by Pakistan High Commission or Pakistani leadership to engage with Hurriyat leaders will not be taken lightly,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
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Tensions between the two countries have been heightened after the terror attack last month in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama which 40 Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF soldiers were killed. The attack had been claimed by Pak-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed which is led by Masood Azhar.
India then carried out “non-military, pre-emptive” air strikes on a Jaish terror training camp in Pakistan’s Balakot. Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistan after his MiG-21 fighter was shot down; he returned to India after two days in Pakistani captivity.