5 Pak ‘diplomats’ not allowed to go to T20 World Cup in Kolkata

All have ISI or Pak defence links.

A fresh row threatened to engulf India-Pakistan ties on Tuesday, this time over cricket, with India set to refuse permission for five out of seven Pakistani diplomats to visit Kolkata for the T20 World Cup match Saturday as they are all either members of Inter-Services Intelligence or defence attaches at the Pakistan high commission.

Sources said New Delhi wouldn’t let either ISI members or Pakistani defence attaches to visit Kolkata. That was why permission was denied to five of the seven Pakistani diplomats to visit Kolkata. Islamabad sought permission from the MEA for seven diplomats to travel to Kolkata.

India’s move comes just two days ahead of a meeting between Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif’s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the Saarc ministerial conference in Pokhara, Nepal.

The ISI and Pakistan’s military establishment are suspected of collusion with Pakistan-based militant groups in masterminding the Pathankot attack on January 2. But Pakistan is bound to see red at the snub after ties appeared to be on the upswing after Islamabad’s decision to take part in the T20 World Cup. The venue of the match had to be shifted from Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh to Kolkata. Pakistan earlier claimed it feared for its players’ safety in India but finally decided to participate after New Delhi assured Islamabad there was no cause for concern. This had been conveyed by the Union home secretary to the Pakistani high commissioner.