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Updated: Feb 16, 2015 20:00 IST

Chinese President Xi Jinping is unlikely to visit Pakistan for the National Day military parade slated for March 23, it was learnt on Monday.

Media reports said earlier that Xi was expected to be the chief guest at the military parade which was being organised after seven years in Islamabad.

The Chinese President’s presence at the military parade Islamabad was being touted as a counter to President Barack Obama being invited as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26.

But now doubts are being cast on Xi’s visit to Islamabad in March.

Sources said the visit was likely to take place in the first half of the year; could be in April or even May.

Foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to Pakistan last week was expected to be a preparatory visit for Xi’s upcoming tour.

Xi’s earlier scheduled visit to Pakistan in September was cancelled because of security concerns.

Foreign ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying had refused to share dates about Xi’s visit to Pakistan last week, only saying that he would visit Pakistan sometime this year.

But speculation about Xi being the chief guest at the military parade on March 23 had been rife in the Pakistani media.

Wang’s visit to Pakistan was marked with the opening of the largest Chinese embassy abroad, state media reported without giving details about it.