December 29, 2001

KATHMANDU: Kathmanduites have been given a day off on January 4 coinciding with the inauguration of the 11th delayed summit of the seven nation SAARC in the capital, an official announcement said.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Gen. Prevej Musharraf have confirmed their participation despite escalating tensions between the South Asian rivals over Kashmir.

India said Friday it will  provide overflying rights to Gen.Musharraf’s aircraft, if requested, to attend the summit in land-locked Nepal despite a ban on Pakistani aircraft flying over Indian airspace. 
Gen. Musharraf could fly to Nepal taking the  trans-Himalayan route over Pakistan held Kashmir and Tibet.