Indian high commission hosts Republic Day reception

ISLAMABAD: Indian chargé d'affaires (cda) Ms. Geetika Srivastava hosted a reception to commemorate 76th Republic Day of her country on Sunday at a hotel here.

It was attended by guests belonging to different shades of the society, including diplomats of various countries. The reception commenced with the playing of national anthems of Pakistan and India, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony.

The political leadership was missing as no minister of any federal or provincial governments turned up for the event.

The host claimed her mission invited a few ministers, but none of them made it to the reception. The sources in Foreign Office told this correspondent that the Indian high commission did not invite any minister for the reception.

The question of any minister turning up could only be raised had the invitation been extended through the Foreign Office, the sources maintained.

The envoys of Saarc member countries and Dean of Diplomatic Corp Atadjan Movlamov, ambassador of Turkmenistan were seated on the central stage who took part in cake cutting, but the Bangladesh high commissioner was conspicuous with his absence.

However, Iqbal Hussain Khan, the high commissioner of Bangladesh, turned up in the dying moments of the reception.

Interestingly, no liquor was served to the guests this year.

India does not have fullfledged high commissioner posted in Islamabad since 2019 when the two countries lowered their diplomatic ties in the wake of annexation of Occupied Kashmir by India, and for the reason ambassadors and high commissioners were represented through their senior most diplomat in the reception.

Isphanyar M. Bhandara and Dr. Darshan, the members of the National Assembly belonging to the ruling party, complained to the charge'd affaires about non-issuance of Indian visa for deserving applicants.Ms. Geetika assured them that she would look into it. The guests were served with sumptuous cuisine, including kebab.

The high commission presented a pouch to every guest at the end of reception with packed Kashmiri saffron in small bottles with a card.

The history of Kashmiri saffron was described on it and it says that saffron also known as red gold, a perennial herb known for its aroma and taste. It is used in food processing pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, perfumery and textile dyes.

'In India, Jammu and Kashmir is known for its saffron production and it has been part of traditional Kashmiri cuisine.'

Former federal caretaker minister Murtaza Solangi and Pakistan's former high commissioner in India Ashraf Jehangir Qazi were among the prominent guests.