The Indo-Pak T-20 war of words on permission to travel to Kolkata escalated on Thursday, with Pakistani diplomatic sources lashing out at India, saying that New Delhi had allowed only 10 persons so fa
The Indo-Pak T-20 war of words on permission to travel to Kolkata escalated on Thursday, with Pakistani diplomatic sources lashing out at India, saying that New Delhi had allowed only 10 persons so far, including the high commissioner and family members of diplomats, to travel to Kolkata and other venues despite Islamabad having applied for permission for 34 of its officials to visit Kolkata and Mohali where the Pakistani team will be playing. Pakistani diplomatic sources termed as “misleading” India’s statement that it has allowed 19 mission officials, adding that those who have not been given permission to visit Kolkata include the defence advisor, press counsellor, three political counsellors, the Naval advisor and Air Force advisor. Pakistani diplomatic sources alleged that “India is hosting this Cup but not willing to allow us to travel”, adding that Pakistan “rejects the Indian official claim of issuing permission to 19 officials of the Pakistan high commission”.
New Delhi had earlier said it had issued 19 approvals for the Pakistanis as a “gesture”, with government sources saying that requests by Pakistani defence attaches to travel to Kolkata were “under process”. India and Pakistan will clash in a high-voltage match at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens this Saturday.
“The high commission applied for 34 officials to watch four matches two in Kolkata and two in Mohali. They (India) have so far given permission for only 10 which also includes high commissioner and family members of the officials. The defence advisor, press counsellor, three political counsellors, Naval advisor, Air Force advisor, and protocol assistants have not been given permission. The figure of 19 given by India is misleading,” Pakistan high commission sources said, adding, “Pakistan never hosted a T20 World Cup so the question of reciprocity does not arise. India is hosting this cup but not willing to allow us to travel”. Islamabad is maintaining that its high commission officials want to be present at venues where the Pakistani team is playing.
After India had initially refused permission to five Pakistani diplomats—-who either had ISI links or were defence attaches——to travel to Kolkata, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry had summoned the Indian Deputy High commissioner in Islamabad on Wednesday and issued a demarche “over denying permission to Delhi-based Pakistan diplomats to travel to Kolkata”, even as New Delhi had appeared to partially relent and had struck a conciliatory note. While arguing that it had not been informed by Pakistan of the itinerary for the proposed travel which was required by “bilateral practice”, India had relented a little, adding that “considering the occasion”, 19 approvals for travel for Pakistani diplomats have been “issued as a gesture”.
While Government sources had made it clear that no Pakistani diplomat with ISI links would be given permission to travel to Kolkata, there were indications however that Pakistani defence attaches who were also initially refused permission to travel to Kolkata could now be given permission, with sources saying travel to Kolkata of the Pakistani defence attaches who applied for permission was “under process”.
