Islamabad: After a gap of two years, the Indian High Commission today (Jan 26, 2004) held a public reception to celebrate the Republic Day.

Pakistan Finance Minister Shoukat Aziz, who acted as the ministers in waiting during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Islamabad to attend the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) summit early this month, attended the reception as the chief guest.

The Pakistan Foreign Office was represented by Jalil Abbas Gilani, Director General South Asia. Several top political leaders, diplomats, Pakistani and Foreign journalists and cultural personalities attended the reception hosted by the Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon at a hotel.

The reception was skipped in 2002 and 2003 due to bilateral tensions after the attack on Indian Parliament in December 2001.

Earlier, Menon hoisted the tricolour and read President A P J Abdul Kalam's address to the nation at simple ceremony in the morning at the Indian High Commission premises.