Special envoys of neighbouring countries to attend Vajpayee's funeral

Special envoys from neighbouring countries Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would be paying their visit to India on Friday to attend the funeral of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

A Pakistan news report stated that Pakistan is planning to send its acting Law and Information Minister Ali Zafar to attend the last rites of the former prime minister.

While a Nepali media report quoted prime minister KP Sharma Oli's Press Advisor Kundan Aryal as saying that the country's foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali would represent the Government of Nepal in Vajpayee's last rites.

Sri Lanka's Department of Government Information confirmed that the country's acting foreign affairs minister Lakshman Kiriella would grace his presence at the funeral service of the 93-year-old former prime minister.

Bangladesh's foreign ministry released a statement saying that Minister of Foreign Affairs AH Mahmood Ali would be visiting India to attend Vajpayee's funeral.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's final journey will begin at 1 pm today with cremation at 4 pm. His body will be taken from his residence at 6, Krishna Menon Marg to BJP HQ on Deendayal Upadhyay Marg, near New Delhi Railway Station, at 9 am.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died following a prolonged illness in New Delhi on Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies)