New Delhi: India on Sunday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over blocking of access of visiting Sikh pilgrims to Indian diplomats in that country.

Even the Indian envoy was compelled by Pak authorities to return while on way to a prominent Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) there.

Terming it an “inexplicable diplomatic discourtesy” by Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said these incidents constitute a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

The MEA said a group of around 1,800 Sikh pilgrims are on a visit to Pakistan from April 12 under a bilateral agreement on facilitating visits to religious shrines.

The MEA said the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, who was to visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib at the invitation of the Chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), was suddenly asked to return while en route the shrine on Saturday, for unspecified ‘security’ reasons.

Syndicated Feed