AMN / NEW DELHI
India has lodged strong protest at the denial of access to the Indian High Commissioner and consular officials of the Indian High Commission to visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan and meet visiting pilgrims.
External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan was summoned today and a strong protest was lodged at the denial of access despite travel permission having been granted by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. A strong protest was also registered by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at the incident.
This is the second consecutive time when the neighbouring country has denied access to Indian High Commissioner to meet the visiting pilgrims.
Indian organizers, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee have expressed grave concern at the incident despite the visiting pilgrims from India having asked Pakistan organisers to facilitate a meeting with Indian High Commissioner and High Commission officials.
The Ministry said it has been conveyed to Pakistan that preventing the Indian High Commission officials from discharging its consular responsibilities is in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and the 1974 bilateral Protocol on visit to religious shrines.
Concerns have also been conveyed at repeated attempts by entities in Pakistan to extend support to secessionist movements in India and incite the Indian pilgrims, and Pakistan authorities asked to ensure that that no such activity is carried out from Pakistan soil.