Signalling a deeper chill in ties with Islamabad, the Indian government did not send a representative to the Pakistan National Day reception in New Delhi on Thursday and enhanced its scrutiny of the Indian guests who attended the event at the High Commission. This was reminiscent of the past, especially in 2019 after the Pulwama terror attacks, when guests had to give their details to security personnel outside the gate. This time, even the former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, was not exempted. Normally, security personnel only note down vehicle details without directly making enquiries with guests. Pakistani diplomats said that an Under-Secretary at the Pakistan Foreign Ministry had attended the Republic Day celebrations at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. As a reciprocal gesture, the Pakistan High Commission had invited the Ministry of External Affairs to send a representative for the National Day reception. No one from the Indian government came. Asked whether the Pakistan High Commission extended an invitation, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he did not have information about it. But hadded: “As for invitations, they depend on relationships, don't they? Acceptance of invitations depends on the nature of the relationship.” Diplomats from several foreign embassies, including US, China and European countries, attended the event. Members of Indian civil society — including former minister in the Congress-led UPA government Mani Shankar Aiyar, former envoy Bisaria, several businessmen and journalists — were also present. Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich said that a “new dawn” in India-Pakistan relations can emerge by enhancing mutual understanding, addressing shared concerns and resolving “longstanding disputes” including the Kashmir issue. Warraich said Islamabad has consistently endeavoured for friendly relations with other states based on the principles of “sovereign equality, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence”. The Pakistan National Day reception in New Delhi is usually a barometer of the state of ties between the two countries. There was no Indian government representation at last year’s reception either. But the security surveillance was not at the level that was witnessed on Thursday.
