Nepal`s Army Day celebratedmbassador Bharat Raj Paudyal welcomed a large number of guests to mark the Nepal Army Day at a reception in Islamabad Serena Hotel this week.

The chief guest was Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence.

Pakistan and Nepal have had diplomatic relations since 1960s, with the exchange of ambassadors in 1963, temporarily severed after Nepal recognized Bangladesh in 1972. There is close cooperation between the two countries in trade, defence, higher education, tourism, and other fields.

`It is always a pleasure to attend Nepalese events,` said a Pakistani woman.

`I find the national dresses that are worn special and beautiful, with an ethnic touch to them.` Another woman said, `The Nepalese cuisine has special flavours, a bit different from other delicacies of the sub-continent. Besides, the Nepalese hospitality and friendliness are unsurpassed.Gratitude to world communityt a large `Ceremony of Gratitude`, organised by Institute of Diplomatic Studies and Comsats University in Islamabad, foreign diplomats and UN staff were thanked for their help after the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, which affected Kashmir particularly badly.

Farhat Asif, the institute`s director, said in her welcoming speech that it was heartwarming to see that people and donor organisations from all over the world came to assist Pakistan in 2005 onwards. `They made substantive contributions to putting smiles back on the faces of children and adults alike. Emergency aid from the international community is always important,` she said.

Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development Farzana Yacoob Khan was chief guest. She also thanked the large number of diplomats attending the event for helping Pakistan `rebuild lives and communities during and after natural disasters` Professor Raheel Qamar, the campus head of Comsats Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) expressed the hope for continued cooperation with foreign missions in Pakistan, placing special emphasis on information technology and education.

`Awards of Gratitude` were conferred on a number of ambassadors, diplomats, UN staff and volunteers.

-Text and photo by Atle Hetland & Shahbaz Chaudary