New Delhi, June 23: The government on Saturday has summoned the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to lodge a strong protest after Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria was denied permission to visit a gurdwara to meet Indian pilgrims. Bisaria was not allowed to visit the Gurdwara Panja Sahib near Islamabad on Friday in spite of having the required permission from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The External Affairs Ministry in a statement said, "The Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan was summoned today (Saturday) and a strong protest was lodged at the denial of access to the Indian High Commissioner and consular officials of the Indian High Commission to visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib and meet the Indian pilgrims despite a travel permission having been granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan."

India has also registered a strong protest in Islamabad at the incident. This is the second time, Pakistan has denied permission to Indian High Commissioner to meet the visiting pilgrims who are Indian nationals. On April 14, Bisaria, who was to greet the Indian pilgrims on the occasion of Baisakhi, was not allowed to visit the Gurdwara Panja Sahib due to unspecified security reasons. That time also India had lodged a strong protest in Islamabad. A group of around 1800 Sikh pilgrims had travelled to Pakistan on April 12 on the occasion of Baisakhi, which marks the 320th birth anniversary of the Khalsa, to visit Sikh Shrines in Pakistan.

India and Pakistan signed a bilateral agreement in 1974 that that allows citizens of the two nations to make pilgrimages in each other’s territories. As per the standard practice, the Indian High Commission's consular team is attached with visiting pilgrims, to perform consular and protocol duties, like helping out in medical or family emergencies.

Meanwhile, India’s Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), have expressed grave concern and dismay at the incident. The ministry stated, “It has been conveyed to Pakistan side that preventing the Indian High Commission officials from discharging their consular responsibilities is in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and the 1974 bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines.”

India has also conveyed its concerns at repeated attempts by entities in Pakistan to extend support to secessionist movements in India and incite the Indian pilgrims. Pakistan authorities have also been asked to ensure that no such activity is carried out from its soil. In April, photographs have surfaced, in which Jammat-Ud Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed is seen with Sikh Militant Gopal Singh Chawla in Lahore. Pakistan based terror outfits are backing Khalistan Sikh Militants to launch a proxy war against India.

(With inputs from IANS)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 23, 2018 08:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).