India gives a miss to Pakistan National Day event in Delhi, Islamabad raise concerns of J&K in event
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New Delhi, Mar 29: In a significant development, the central government did not attend the Pakistan National Day event conducted by the Pakistan Embassy in Delhi held on Thursday amid the strained relations between both countries.
In a first after the Shehbaz Sharif government came to power, Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich said that the goal of peace and stability can be achieved by "enhancing mutual understanding", "addressing shared concerns and resolving long-standing disputes, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute".
Further, he said, "We can emerge from the shadow of the past and script a future of hope for our two peoples based on peaceful coexistence, sovereign equality and mutual respect".
Reports suggest that the Indian authorities skipped the event despite that the Pakistan High Commission in India had formally extended an invitation to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
At Pakistan National day, Pakistan CdA Saad Ahmad @Saadawarraich on India Ties:
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) March 28, 2024
-History of bilateral relationship has remained challenged in most part
-We can emerge from shadow of past & script a future of hope
-Mentions Jammu & Kashmir
-Mentions "common trait of cricket" https://t.co/vE0Od56LVn pic.twitter.com/oWpoV4OMUb
"The Charge d’ Affaires said that founding fathers of Pakistan and India envisioned amicable relations between the two countries. Unfortunately, the history of our bilateral relationship has remained challenged for the most part," he added in the event.
Warraich also spoke about the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir, a longstanding bone of contention between India and Pakistan. "The role of regional peace and stability can be achieved by enhancing mutual understanding, addressing shared concerns, and resolving long-standing disputes, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute," he highlighted.