India International Trade Fair opens sans Pakistan pavilion

Amid heightened tensions between the two nations, India International Trade Fair (IITF) opened this time sans Pakistani presence, which some officials said was unprecedented.

As many as 126 companies from the neighbouring country had initially shown interest in participating at the annual event but backed out, they said. "This is perhaps the first time that there will be no Pakistan pavilion in the fair," said an official at the India Trade Promotion Organisation, which organises the event. About 126 companies from Pakistan had sent applications for taking part in the 36th edition of the fair from November 14-27, but later withdrew citing lack of time to complete the formalities, he said.

In the last few years, the official pointed out, Pakistani women's apparel counter had been drawing huge crowds at the IITF. There have been over 100 ceasefire violations by Pakistan on Indian posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir following 'surgical strikes' at terror camps across the border by Indian forces. The worst-ever Pakistani shelling took place on November 1 when 8 persons were killed and 24 others injured along the IB and the LoC in five sectors of the state, forcing Indian troops to destroy 14 Pakistani posts and killing two of their troopers.