The tussle between India and Pakistan over denial of visas to applicants from either side has escalated with Islamabad describing New Delhi’s decision to deny visa to its foreign ministry official as “unprecedented” and “unacceptable”.
On Wednesday, Pakistani media quoted an official of the Foreign Office in Islamabad asserting that India had no reason to deny visa to the official, who was being sent for a position in its High Commission in New Delhi.
While Pakistan has termed the decision as “absolutely absurd,” sources said India had indicated that it would be unable to give visa to the concerned foreign ministry official and had cited “concerns” over his alleged links to the Pakistani intelligence.
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Media reports indicate that Pakistan is yet to withdraw the application of the concerned official.
The kerfuffle comes close on the heels of India accusing Pakistan of rejecting the visa applications of two yoga instructors.
According to sources, Pakistan turned down the application of a Yoga instructor, made through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in March this year, and it also turned down the request of a second instructor, in the run up to the preparations for the International Yoga Day on June 21.
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On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India had to make “internal arrangements” for holding the International Yoga Day celebrations as “Pakistan’s mindset became clear when they rejected visa to our yoga teacher.”
She asserted that despite the problems, India will hold the Yoga Day celebrations at the High Commission in Islamabad.
According to sources, diplomats of all countries will attend the June 21 celebrations being held in the High Commission in Islamabad but Pakistani officials are unlikely to be present.
Earlier in May, Pakistan had accused India of not giving visas to a nine-member Ju-Jitsu Federation, which was supposed to participate in the first South Asian & Central Asian Ju-Jitsu Championship in Bengaluru.
Sources in Islamabad, however, said that the team had applied too late and there was not enough time for the officials to process the documents.