India on Friday lodged a protest with Pakistan over the alleged harassment of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad and the denial of access to Indian Sikh pilgrims visiting that country. New Delhi also expressed "grave concern" over reported attempts to "incite" communal disharmony and "promote secessionist tendencies" during the ongoing visit of pilgrims with an aim to undermine India's sovereignty and territorial integrity during the ongoing visit of pilgrims there.
This development signaling further worsening of bilateral ties took place a day after India and Pakistan agreed to develop a corridor on their respective sides of the international border to link a historic Sikh shrine in Kartarpur in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu thanked the Government for developing the infrastructure for the pilgrims for the Kartarpur shrine. The decision to develop infrastructure was taken in a Union Cabinet meeting on Thursday.
As regards the protest, an External Ministry statement said here "India has today lodged a strong protest with the Government of Pakistan that despite having been granted prior travel permission by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, the Consular officials of the High Commission of India in Islamabad were harassed and denied access on November 21 and 22 at Gurudwara Nankana Sahib and Gurudwara Sacha Sauda." There were reports that pro-Khalistani banners were shown to the Indian pilgrims while they were on their way to the two Sikh shrines.
"Pakistan has been called upon to take all measures to not allow its territory to be used for any hostile propaganda and support for secessionist tendencies against India in keeping with the commitments made under the Simla Agreement, 1972 and endorsed in the Lahore Declaration, 1999," the statement said. The Indian pilgrims are visiting Pakistan under a bilateral protocol.
"Pakistan has been reminded that such actions are not in consonance with the stated intentions of Pakistan to facilitate the visits of Indian Sikh pilgrims, especially as we commemorate the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji," the statement said.
On the issue of denial of access, it said the access was denied despite the Pakistan Foreign Ministry granting the Indian officials prior travel permission. As a result of the harassment, the officials were compelled to return to Islamabad without performing their diplomatic and consular duties vis-a-vis Indian pilgrims, it added. Indian officials said this is the third consecutive visit of Indian Sikh pilgrims when Pakistan has prevented the Indian High Commission officials from meeting the Indian nationals on the pretext of security.
The External Affairs Ministry termed the denial of access an attempt to deflect attention from Pakistan's violation of international legal instruments and conventions like the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Pakistan has been reminded that this is in contrast to the treatment meted out to their High Commissioner and the Consular officials in New Delhi who have been provided full access to meet the Pakistani pilgrims who are currently in India on pilgrimage to Kalyar Sharif, the statement said.