India skips Pakistan National Day event for second year

As ties remain frosty, there was no representation from the Indian side at Pakistan National Day celebrations Thursday for the second year in succession. Addressing the event, Pakistan charge d’ affaires Saad Warraich said Pakistan desires peaceful ties with India and a new dawn can emerge in the relationship by enhancing mutual understanding, addressing mutual concerns and resolving longstanding issues, including J&K.

It’s not clear if Pakistan had invited India for the event but the normal practice is to have a chief guest from host govt. Pakistan last year invited several Indian govt functionaries but nobody had turned up. PM Modi had earlier this week reiterated India’s position that Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism and that repeated Indian efforts for peace with Islamabad had been met with hostility.