Amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan, a group of Pakistani authors, poets and sufi artistes have withdrawn from the three-day Saarc Sufi Music Festival scheduled to be held over the weekend, beginning Friday.

The festival is organised annually by the Foundation of Saarc Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) in association with the Rajasthan government. The foundation is spearheaded by Punjabi writer Ajit Cour.

About 25 leading figures in the fields of arts, literature, theatre and Sufi mysticism were invited from Pakistan to the prestigious event. However, safety concerns said to have forced them to withdraw from the event at the last moment amid reports that there could be protests and demonstrations against them.

The invitations for the event were sent in advance to the Pakistani artistes in April-May this year and their consent was received.

“I regret the decision of my Pakistani friends,” Ms Cour, chairperson of the foundation, said. “They must be scared. They are also people like us and the present state of unpleasantness between the two countries may have discouraged them,” she added.

Denying that, the festival organizers had a role in Pakistani delegation’s decision, Ms. Cour said: “It was their decision. We are the ones to invite them. In fact, we fought for visas for Pakistani authors and singers back in the ’80s when there were no cultural exchanges between the two countries.”

Last month, following threats by Hindu outfits, Mayo College, Ajmer had cancelled an event under the cultural exchange programme which was to be attended by a delegation from Pakistan.

Barring the Pakistani delegation, nearly 250 participants from the SAARC nations are expected to attend the festival, which will be a mélange of Sufi dance and music performances, poetry, book readings, book launches and interactive sessions at Diggi Palace. Award winning singer, songwriter and composer, Sonam Kalra will also perform on the concluding day of the Sufi Festival.