TDAP calls off New Delhi event as Pak-India tensions simmer

3rd edition of Aalishan Pakistan was scheduled for next month

In the wake of simmering tensions between the two south Asian nuclear-armed neighbours, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has decided to call off an event scheduled to be held next month in New Delhi.

“Due to current situations between Pakistan and India which are beyond TDAP’s control, the event planned for 2016 has been called off,” the authority announced.

The current bout of tensions between the arch rivals reached at its peak after separatists killed 17 Indian army soldiers in Uri sector of the occupied Kashmir, which New Delhi immediately blamed on Pakistan — a claim that Pakistan vehemently denied.

The assault, in which four commando-style gunmen burst into the brigade headquarters in Uri at 5:30 am (midnight GMT) on September 18, was among the deadliest in held Kashmir.

The two neighbours have been at odds since July 8 when a populist Kashmiri youth leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani was killed by Indian forces.

At least 100 demonstrators have so far been killed due to the occupied military’s indiscriminate use of force against Kashmiri masses.