In fresh provocation by Pakistan, Indian high commissioner Ajay Bisaria and his wife were prevented from entering Gurdwara Panja Sahib, about two hours’ driving distance from Islamabad, to meet Indian pilgrims, which led India to lodge a protest. The Bisaria couple and Indian officials were forced to return from the shrine despite having obtained all necessary permissions for the visit in advance from Pakistan’s foreign ministry. This is the second time Indian officials have been prevented from meeting pilgrims from India, the last being on April 14.
Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah was summoned by the Indian foreign ministry to register a protest and India also warned Islamabad against fanning the Khalistan secessionist movement. As on April 14, when Indian pilgrims were visiting for Baisakhi, India said its officials had been prevented from carrying out their consular duties. According to Indian officials, Pakistan prevents such meetings to allow its agencies the opportunity to try and brainwash pilgrims into supporting the Khalistan movement.
On the previous occasion, a woman had broken from the delegation to go to Lahore where she converted to Islam and married a Pakistani citizen. A widow, she left three children behind in India. Indian officials wondered if she was spotted on social media - where she met her Pakistani husband - as an emotionally vulnerable target.
“Concerns have also been conveyed at repeated attempts by entities in Pakistan to extend support to secessionist movements in India and incite the Indian pilgrims, and Pakistani authorities [have been] asked to ensure that no such activity is carried out from Pakistani soil,” said a statement by the MEA. The pilgrims were visiting Panja Sahib on the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson claimed in a tweet that Bisaria was informed about what he described as heightened pilgrim sentiments against India and that concern over the same had led the Indian high commissioner to cancel his visit. “Sikh pilgrims were protesting against their maltreatment in India and release of controversial movies,” the spokesperson said.
Envoys’ harassment has continued in both Delhi and Islamabad
India conveyed to Pakistan that preventing the Indian high commission officials from discharging their consular responsibilities is in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and the 1974 bilateral protocol on visit to religious shrines.
The Indian organiser, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, when contacted by MEA, expressed grave concern and dismay that the Indian envoy was turned away despite the visiting pilgrims having asked the Pakistani organisers to facilitate a meeting with Indian high commission officials, said the statement.
More than 300 Indian Sikhs are visiting Pakistan for the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Pakistan said that a special train was arranged by its railways from Attari to Wagah for the Sikh yatris.
Despite the understanding reached in late March to revive the 1992 code of conduct, which is meant to shield diplomats from frequent turbulence in ties, incidents of harassment have continued in both Delhi and Islamabad, as reported by TOI on June 16.
Within the framework of the Pakistan-India protocol on visits to religious shrines of 1974, Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to observe various religious festivals/occasions every year. Pakistan had said on Saturday that it had issued visas to over 300 Sikh pilgrims from India to observe the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore, from June 21to 30.
