The External Affairs Ministry has refused to comment on Pakistan’s allegation that permissions for the travel of its High Commissioner Abdul Basit and his wife to Chandigarh had been delayed and the press councillor of the Pakistan High Commission and another officer had been denied permission.
Mr. Basit had cancelled his visit scheduled from July 29 to 31.
The development could indicate that India was weighing its options as more alleged links between the terrorists who carried out the attack and cross-border groups emerged. While an initial assessment by the Ministry said talks between the National Security Advisers of India and Pakistan would be held in August as scheduled, the government could face strong pressure from the Opposition to call off the dialogue process set in motion by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif after a meeting in Russia, if more evidence of a Pakistan-link is unearthed.
Pakistani officials said it was “unfortunate” that Mr. Basit’s visit had to be called off. They said Mr. Basit’s meetings with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Haryana counterpart, Manohar Lal Khattar, were confirmed on Monday, but a few hours later, as details emerged of the attack in Gurdaspur, the Chief Ministers conveyed their inability to meet Mr. Basit. “The purpose of the visit was to build bridges,” an official told The Hindu .
