India on Wednesday permitted 19 Delhi-based Pakistani diplomats to travel to Kolkata for the T-20 World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and India scheduled for March 19. The clearance from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came after the Pakistani Government raised the issue with Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, a day after permission to five Pak diplomats was rejected for Kolkata visit to witness the match between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Only two persons were allowed to go on Tuesday. However, those five diplomats whose permits were rejected on Tuesday for having links with Pakistan military and Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) could not travel out.
According to Pak sources, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry raised the issue with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in Pokhra, Nepal, where they are attending South Asian Association of Regional Conference (SAARC) meet. In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh to lodge protest and a demarche was made for India’s denial of travel permits to Kolkata.
The Indian Government put the blame on Pak side for not giving travel itinerary in time, hence, the delay. “Pakistan has not informed the Government of the itinerary for their proposed travels, as required by bilateral practice. This was despite repeated reminders over the past few days. However, considering the occasion, 19 approvals were issued as a gesture. This has been conveyed to Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs at senior levels. We have urged that agreed requirements are met so that the rest of the requests can be processed,” said Vikas Swarup, official Spokesperson for MEA.
Unhappy over the suspense on travel permits, sources in Pak embassy countered back saying they had met Joint Secretary (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran) Gopal Baglay in MEA on Sunday and handed over a comprehensive plan about their diplomats’ travel to various cities. “We had planned to depute our diplomats for all matches who can be with the Pak cricket team at different venues and act as bride between the players and Indian side for administrative and facilitation purposes. However, due to unsupportive and unfriendly behaviour of MEA officials, who held back our clearances till the last minute on Tuesday, we have lost roughly about `2.5 lakh as penalties to airlines and hotels due to last minute cancellations,” the Pak official said.
Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit is scheduled to travel to Kolkata to witness the match on March 19 between India and Pakistan. He will also hold a reception for the visiting Pak team in Kolkata.