The visits to religious shrines in Pakistan and India are governed under the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to the Religious Shrines, 1974. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday summoned a senior Indian diplomat to lodge a protest over the denial of visas to its nationals intending to travel to the neighboring country for the annual Urs of Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti at Ajmer Sharif.
According to the foreign ministry statement, the Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Bag was summoned to the foreign office and a strong protest was lodged over denial of visas to 500 pilgrims.
“The visits to religious shrines in Pakistan and India are governed under the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to the Religious Shrines, 1974,” said the statement.
The foreign office spokesperson said Pakistan conveyed its deep disappointment and concern over the denial of visas by the Indian government.
“This is the fourth time that visas have been denied to Pakistani pilgrims in the last one year. This is not only against the bilateral agreement, but also runs contrary to the efforts towards normalizing ties between the two countries and the spirit of people-to-people contacts,” spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said.
Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Baghlay summoned by Pakistan over denial of visas to 500 pilgrims to visit Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 2, 2014
Meanwhile, the Gaddi Nasheen of Ajmer Sharif Syed Salman Chishty lamented politics being carried out over the Urs of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti.
https://twitter.com/sufimusafir/status/46235933898874060
COMMENTS (26)
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@Rudra: This is a classic case of rich becoming richer and poor getting poorer. In Mumbai everyone travels by old train system, these metro trains are used by few thousands and are show-off projects and a recipe for more corruption by the government. Never heard of billions upon billions of corruption in 2G and 3G auction in coal buying, in power sector?. There is no doubt economic progress but it is not holistic and widespread. Only big multi nationals and Ambanis, Mittals, and the likes of them have looted India with the connivance of the ruling elites. Take the example of the Mukesh Ambani's 1 billion USD home(now worth more) in Mumbai overlooking the slums of the city which houses an astonishing 62% of Mumbai population.
http://zeenews.india.com/business/photogallery/top-10-indian-scams_284.html
dear Editor- i think pakistan and india are 100% right in reducing/refusing visas to each other"s nationals- let us be frank- pakistan is not at all a safe place for indians to travel to for any purpose- and the same goes for india- it is not the best place for pakistanis- in fact if saner elements are to decide the course of events- i would request both the indian and pakistani authorities to refuse visas for any of their nationals from travelleing to each other"s countries for the next 10 years at least - regards-
@ patriot.n @stellar you can either close your eyes and burn. Or accept truth. Doesn't matter to us anyway it's good if our enemies underestimate our strength while we grow under their nose without them having any clue. Already the wheel has been set in motion since 91. Metros trains, monorails, expanding railways to every nook and corner of country, IT sector boom, major diamond trade, entertainment sector, space sector,business sector etc etc.. The goals have been set every year we move closer to it surpassing economy records. What green eyed people say matter less to us.
@stellar. Got your answer? here's the link.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/04/india-becomes-world-third-largest-economy-2014430153453423300.html
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/internationbusiness/2014/May/internationbusiness_May1.xml§ion=internationbusiness
ET allow this response.
When a fellow muslim country Kuwait is not issuing visas to Pakistanis, then why should India ?
@Dhanish: Agree with you and Pakistan is facing the critical conditions you mentioned in your comment just due to the corrupt and unable leadership but Indian economy can never be compared with Japan's economy but Indian economy's advancement is based on its own resources and feet....
@Dhanish: India is at 9th place with nominal GDP. It's per capita GDP is lower than Sri Lanka and Sudan.
http://www.bbc.com/news/10609407
@green. Then why are is your country always protesting and crying for visa to india? When indians don't show the same enthusiasm visa versa? Btw on your statement, have you seen your own statistics on those regard? India fairs much better then you. India is self reliant standing on its feet with trillion dollar economy. While your country is still on aids from USA and Britain saudi. Last week india replaced japan to become worlds third largest economy. Sheer ignorance and bigotry from your side. ET allow this response
@sharabi: Why on earth would any Pakistani want to live in a country where people die of hunger, there are no homes, not even toilets. Ewwwww...... at your country....
Seems nobody heeded to chaudhary Nisar warning
Is attending the Urs in Ajmir Sharif India obligatory for the muslims?Pakistan's protest to India over denial of visa to 500 pilgrims is absolutely and definitely useless.....
The Real fact: Many people were not returned, when India permitted them to visit some places and few are still hiding in various cities, Remember During India Pak series lot of so called Cricket fans were not return and few were arrested by Police in different cities.
How dare d Indians? Glad I decided to stay at home and do what my name says.
India should open its Consulate in Karachi.
@ ali no time election on. Security and safety of people matters most. Even IPL was shifted to Dubai coz of it. Can't afford another Mumbai by allowing suspicious people entry here.
There must be some security reasons behind this decision.check the whereabouts of these "pilgrims" first before angry on GoI.
@babu how many indians do you see coming this side? Do you think they are bothered? Security is so pathetic apart from polio and terrorism no country wants to visit Pakistan. Sad state of affairs.
Pakistanis should realize by now that we care chit about Pakistan. Just because some Punjabis are nostalgic doesn't mean we forget recent events like 26/11.
Pakistan should also do same as Indians and then see the uproar....
i am not sure why India is doing this, India can always stop them for screening and give their enemies more trouble
runs contrary to the efforts towards normalizing ties between the two countries and the spirit of people-to-people contacts
Spirit of people-to-people contacts; really now ? And who is willing to risk the future of our children by letting them come in contact with potential polio virus carriers or terrorists ?
Do these 500 people have certificates of Polio vaccination?
I know Pakistanis have beginning to hate the new arrogant India. Me too.
But assertiveness in the matter of national security is a necessity.
So, again, do they have polio vaccination?
What was I thinking :-)
It is such a pity that two of the largest countries in the world cannot get over their childish spats, and start behaving like adults. In view of the western idiots currently creating world wide problems we need countries such as India/Pakistan to take over and do the job properly. Sadly, I do not see India/Pakistan filling the gap, and all we can look forward to is the Western oligarchs continuing their dreadful policies.
India should not have denied visas to these pilgrims. It is wrong. May be they can have some quota on the number of pilgrims and can even insist on additional security measures. But repeated denial of visas is not good.