In a sign that the terror attack in Gurdaspur district of Indian Punjab may impair the freshly resuscitated Indo-Pak engagement process, Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit called off his 2-day visit to the state meant to start Wednesday (today).
Basit had several engagements lined up for his visit to Chandigarh including meetings with Punjab and Haryana chief ministers, Parkash Singh Badal and ML Khattar respectively.
While both Badal and Khattar sent regret messages to Basit saying that they would not like to meet him, according to diplomatic sources, the visit had to be called off because other senior Pakistani officials were denied permission by the Indian External Affairs Ministry to accompany him to Chandigarh.
Basit’s trade minister, political counsellor and press attache were supposed to travel with him and his wife.
Diplomatic sources in New Delhi said it was unfortunate that the visit had to be called off.
“Moreover, the ministry conveyed its approval to the visit only around 3pm and that too without approval for accompanying officials. This is most regrettable,” said a source, adding that the Pakistani High Commission was thankful to those who had agreed to host Basit and other Pakistan officials.
Apart from his meetings with the chief ministers, Basit was supposed to address gatherings at Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, PHD Chamber of Commerce, Chandigarh Press Club and Punjab University.
According to Pakistani officials, the purpose of the visit was to build bridges and enhance mutual understanding.
Pakistan had condemned the Gurdaspur attack on Monday in the strongest terms, reiterating the condemnation of terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations” by both the countries in Ufa where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had recently met his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.
Both Pakistani and Indian officials said that the two countries are still looking to finalise dates for a meeting between the two national security advisers, as decided in Ufa. The final decision though has to be taken by India as it has to host the talks and, in that capacity, has to first propose dates for talks. Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security Sartaj Aziz will travel to India for talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.
India and Pakistan have seen a sudden rise in tensions due recent bouts of cross-border firing and an infiltration attempt by what Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) claimed was an Indian spy drone early this month.