India lodges strong protest with Pak over 'harassment' of officials

Two Indian High Commission officials were denied access to 2 gurdwaras in Pakistan

singh Two officials of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan were stopped from entering two gurdwaras | ANI Twitter

India on Friday lodged strong protest with Pakistan for barring two Indian officials from entering the Gurudwara Nankana Sahib and Gurudwara Sacha Sauda in the neighbouring country. "India lodges strong protest with Pakistan government that despite being granted prior travel permission by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, High Commission of India in Islamabad's Consular officials were harassed and denied access on 21 and 22 November at Gurudwara Nankana Sahib and Gurudwara Sacha Sauda to Indian pilgrims," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Friday.

India also expressed grave concern at reports of attempts to incite communal disharmony during visit of Indian pilgrims to Pakistan. "We've also expressed grave concern at reports of attempts being made during the ongoing visit of Indian pilgrims to Pakistan, to incite communal disharmony and intolerance and promote secessionist tendencies with objective of undermining India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity." MEA also called upon Pakistan to take all measures to not allow its territory to be used for hostile propaganda against India. 

Aranjeet Singh and Sunil Kumar—two officials of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan—were denied access to the gurdwaras after as the Imran Khan government was miffed with the Indian government saying it has hurt the sentiments of Sikhs by allowing the screening of the film 'Nanak Shah Fakir'. "As a result of such harassment, they were compelled to return to Islamabad without performing their diplomatic and consular duties vis-a-vis Indian pilgrims," the MEA claimed.

The officials reported to have visited the Sachcha Sauda gurdwara to exchange greetings with the visiting Indian Sikhs, who are here to take part in festivities related to the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

In June, Pakistan Gurdwara Pharbhndik Committee (PGPC) officials had barred Indian High Commissioner Ajay Basaria and his wife from entering the Gurdwara Panja Sahib at Hassan Abdal, Rawalpindi. 

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