When India invited chief guest from Pakistan on Republic Day, war broke out after just 3 months
The country is celebrating 76th Republic Day. This time India has invited Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto as the chief guest for this program. Actually, a chief guest is invited every year in India's Republic Day (26 January) celebrations. This tradition started in 1950 and it continues till now. But do you know that India has invited Pakistan as the chief guest for Republic Day twice. But even after this honor, Pakistan did a nefarious act and started a war with India. Let's know this story...
Pakistan got the chance to be the chief guest twice
The relations between India and Pakistan have always been complicated. But despite the tension and conflict, Pakistani leaders have been invited as the chief guest in the Republic Day celebrations. Pakistan was made the chief guest on India's Republic Day in 1955 and 1965.
In 1955, Pakistan's Governor General Malik Ghulam Mohammad was made the chief guest of Republic Day. Whereas in 1965, Pakistan's Agriculture Minister Rana Abdul Hamid attended the Republic Day as the chief guest of India.
Also Read: 76 years of Republic Day: Pride & glory on path of duty, India's strength from ground to the sky
Let us tell you that despite the honor given to Pakistan in this program held in January, the neighboring country did an unholy act and after 6 months, there was a war between India and Pakistan. The war between India and Pakistan started on 5 August 1965, which lasted till the end of September.
When the India-Pakistan war started
Even though India had invited Pakistan on Republic Day and extended a hand of friendship and trust, but Pakistan had once again intended to stab it in the back. Not even two months had passed, when in the last months of March in 1965, Pakistan deliberately started clashes in the Rann of Kutch. After some agreements, the matter did calm down a bit, but Pakistan kept preparing for a big attack from within.
Eventually, in early August, thousands of Pakistani soldiers disguised as the local population of Kashmir crossed the Line of Control and entered Indian Kashmir. This war lasted till 23 September. In this attack, Indian soldiers captured many areas of Pakistan.
However, later a ceasefire was declared after the intervention of the United Nations. After this attack, when Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri went to Tashkent in January for an agreement between the two countries, he died there under mysterious circumstances.
Who got the most opportunities on Republic Day?
So far, French leaders have been invited the greatest number of times as the chief guest of Republic Day. French leaders were invited as the chief guest of Republic Day in 1976, 1980, 1998, 2008, 2016 and 2024. This reflects the special bilateral relations between India and France, which are strong in areas like defense, nuclear energy, terrorism, and technical cooperation.
How is the plan to invite the chief guest made?
The process of inviting the chief guest for Republic Day is a complex and well thought out strategy. The decision depends on several factors.
Political and diplomatic relations
The first and foremost factor in the selection of the chief guest is the political and diplomatic relations between the two countries. If the two countries have good bilateral relations, the head of that country is invited. This not only promotes cooperation between the two countries but also sends a positive message on the global stage.
Economic and defence cooperation
Cooperation in economic and defence sectors is also an important consideration. India should have a partnership in trade, defence or other important areas with the country whose head of state is being considered for invitation.
Global context
International politics and global context also play a role in inviting the chief guest. For example, India may invite its strategic partners on Republic Day to further strengthen its relationship with them, as in 2015, US President Barack Obama was invited.
Cultural and historical relations
Sometimes cultural and historical relations are also taken into consideration. Historical and cultural relations between India and a country play an important role in the selection of the chief guest of Republic Day.
.