Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has been invited as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. However, it has not been officially announced. For the past several years, the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations was announced a month in advance, but this time the announcement has not been made yet. Pakistan is believed to be the reason behind this.
The delay in the announcement of the chief guest of the Republic Day is happening because of Pakistan. This is because the President of Indonesia will also visit Pakistan immediately after India. India does not want Pakistan to be associated with this visit of the President. This is the reason why the announcement is getting delayed.
There was news in Pakistan that the Indonesian President may visit Pakistan on a 3-day visit on January 26. In recent times, India has asked foreign leaders not to include Pakistan in their itinerary during their visit to India.
If sources are to be believed, immediately after attending the Republic Day celebrations in India, Subianto will fly directly from here to Islamabad. Talks are going on from India's side to stop this flight. Subianto's going directly from India to Islamabad is being considered a bad sign for India.
Relations between India and Pakistan are strained over border dispute and terrorism. Subianto met Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif at an event in Egypt in 2024. At that time, Subianto had promised to increase economic cooperation.
In 2018, the then President Widodo and the leaders of 9 other ASEAN member states attended the Republic Day celebrations. This time too Widodo reached Pakistan directly from India. Many questions were raised then. This is the reason why India does not want to make this mistake again.
If reports are to be believed, this is the third time that India has invited an Indonesian President for Republic Day.
