MEA Protests as Indian Officials Denied Pilgrimage to Pak Gurdwara

India protested the harassment of High Commission officials as they accompanied Indian pilgrims to Pakistan.

India raised objection with Pakistan after high commission officials were denied entry into Gurudwaras.

(Photo: AP)

Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah has been summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs to lodge protest against Pakistani government for harassing Indian diplomats and denying them access to Indian Sikh pilgrims in Lahore, despite having prior permission from Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry.

India had lodged a protest against the Pakistani government for the harassment and denial of access to Indian High Commission officials during the visit of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Gurudwara Nankana Sahib and Sacha Sauda in Pakistan on 21 and 22 November.

Attempts at hostile propaganda were also alleged by the Ministry of External Affairs.

'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," the MEA was quoted by ANI as saying.

“Despite having been granted prior travel permission by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, the Consular officials of the High Commission of India in Islamabad were harassed and denied access on 21 and 22 November at Gurudwara Nankana Sahib and Sacha Sauda.”

Ministry of External Affairs

The MEA said as a result of this harassment, the officials were forced to return to Islamabad without performing their diplomatic duties with regard to Indian pilgrims.

(This is a developing story. More details are awaited.)

(With inputs from ANI)