Kolkata: In what could further sour the already strained
bilateral ties, seven Pakistani diplomats were denied permission to visit
Kolkata for the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 encounter between India and Pakistan on
March 19 because they were seen as possessing links with “ISI and defense”
organizations.
JP Singh, India's deputy high commissioner in Islamabad, has
been summoned by the Pakistani High Commission officials to protest against the
refusal of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to grant visas to the
diplomats.
Pakistani sources in New Delhi said India's decision to deny
them permission to India was unacceptable. The Pakistan establishment termed
the Indian act a “bad gesture” and pointed out that even Pakistan High
Commissioner Abdul Basit had not been given the permission as of yet. Pakistani
sources alleged that they had sought permission for 17 High Commission
officials to travel for the matches. The permission, however, has still not
been granted. Terming it “a very hostile act” on India’s part, Pakistani
officials expressed their surprise at the Indian attitude at an event which
they felt should have been used to generate goodwill between the two countries.
Sources close to the MEA said: "It is not a case of Visa,
it is a case of permission to travel to India to Pakistani diplomats. Two have
been granted visas. The remaining five will be not be given permits since they
have close links with the defense and ISI."
Pakistan is going to face its first ‘Super Ten’ match today
against Bangladesh, while India faced its first ‘Super Ten’ match on Tuesday,
which it lost to New Zealand by 47 runs.
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