R-Day celebrated after 2 years in Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JAN. 26. It was after a gap of two years that the Indian High Commission in Pakistan celebrated the Republic Day today by hosting a reception in a star hotel here. The devastating earthquake cast a shadow on the occasion, which otherwise would have been a glittering affair.

The Minister for Communication and Transport, Lt. Gen. (retd) Javed Ashraf, was the chief guest at the function hosted by the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Vijay K. Nambiar, and attended by a galaxy of diplomats and senior officials from the military establishment and representatives of Pakistani and international media.

The year 2000 went without the traditional reception as it came within four months after the bloodless coup, in which the military ousted the Nawaz Sharif Government, and perhaps New Delhi was not reconciled to the idea of dealing with men in uniform at the helm of affairs.

Mr. Nambiar unfurled the national flag on the High Commission premises and read out the President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan's speech to the nation on Thursday night. The Pakistan President, Mr. Rafiq Tarar, and the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, in separate messages to the Indian President and the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, extended their warm facilitation.

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Section  : International
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