India on Saturday summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner, Syed Haider Shah, and lodged a strong protest over the denial of access to its Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and other consular officials were stopped from visiting a Gurdwara to meet Indian pilgrims despite having necessary permission.
It was conveyed to the Pakistan side that preventing the Indian High Commission officials from discharging their consular responsibilities was in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and the 1974 bilateral Protocol on visit to religious shrines.
Bisaria and consular officials were denied to visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Punjab province and meet the Indian pilgrims despite travel permission from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
“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,” it said.
“A strong protest was also registered by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at the incident,” it stated.
“This is the second time Pakistan has denied access to Indian High Commissioner to meet the visiting pilgrims who are Indian nationals.”
Indian organisers, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), expressed grave concern and dismay 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.