India relents a bit as T20 row with Pak builds

After India refused permission to five Pakistani diplomats — who either had ISI links or were defence attaches — to travel to Kolkata for the India-Pakistan T20 match this Saturday, the Pakistan foreign ministry summoned India’s deputy high commissioner in Islamabad on Wednesday and issued a demarche “over denying permission to Delhi-based Pakistan diplomats to travel to Kolkata”. However, New Delhi appeared to partially relent and struck a conciliatory note. While arguing it had not been informed by Pakistan of the itinerary for the proposed travel which was required by “bilateral practice”, India appeared to relent a little, adding that “considering the occasion”, 19 approvals for travel for Pakistani diplomats have been “issued as a gesture”. While sources made it clear that no Pakistani diplomat with ISI links would get permission to travel to Kolkata, there are indications that any Pakistani defence attaches who were earlier refused permission to travel to Kolkata could now be given permission. Sources said travel to Kolkata of any of the defence attaches who applied for permission was “under process”, indicating a partial rethink by India.

After Pakistan had initially requested permission for seven of its diplomats to travel to Kolkata, India had granted permission to only two, while refusing permission for the other five.

Pakistani sources said Islamabad had expressed “severe displeasure” to New Delhi over the refusal of permission to five diplomats to travel to Kolkata and added it would have been better if the subsequent conciliatory note struck by India had been shown earlier. Pakistani sources said the Pakistani diplomats who wished to travel to Kolkata would serve as a “bridge” between the Pakistani cricket team and the Indian government, especially in the wake of the fears expressed by Islamabad over the security of the Pakistani team in India. Pakistani sources maintained that some of the Pakistani diplomats who wanted to travel to Kolkata for Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh on Wednesday could not do so due to lack of permission, adding that uncertainty over receiving permission from the Indian authorities on time was affecting the travel and accommodation plans of Pakistani diplomats who wished to travel to Kolkata.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Islamabad said: “The Indian deputy high commissioner Mr J.P. Singh, was called in by the ministry of foreign affairs in Islamabad today and a demarche made over denying permission to Delhi-based

Pakistan diplomats to travel to Kolkata to witness cricket matches being played by the Pakistan team today and on March 19.”

In New Delhi, the external affairs ministry said: “Pakistan has not informed the government of the itinerary for the proposed travels, as required by bilateral practice. This was despite repeated reminders over the past few days.

However, considering the occasion, 19 approvals were issued as a gesture. This has been conveyed to the Pakistan ministry of foreign affairs at senior levels. We have urged that agreed requirements are met so that the rest of the requests can be processed.”

Pakistani sources were cited by news agency reports from Islamabad as saying that Pakistan foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry had raised the issue with Indian foreign secretary S. Jaishankar in Pokhara, Nepal, where they are both attending the Saarc ministerial conference.