New Delhi: The emphasis on an “atmosphere free from terror and violence” between India and Pakistan assumes significance as just last week Jammu and Kashmir was hit by two terror attacks in as many days.

The two countries sparred after Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit’s utterance that India was not against his interactions with Kashmiri separatist leaders. New Delhi made it clear that there was no role for a third party.

However, the Hurriyat leaders said they were trying to assist India and Pakistan in resolving the “complex” issue of Kashmir which needed a political approach.

Gen. Singh said late on Monday evening that he was asked by the government to represent it at the event.

“Gen. V.K. Singh (Retd) attended the Pakistan National Day celebrations as the representative of the Indian government. For India, it was a Pakistan National Day event. We are not concerned about the presence of anyone else,” government sources told this newspaper when asked about why India sent a representative when the Hurriyat leaders were also attending the event.