India lodges protest with Pak over harassment of officials, denial of access to pilgrims

In a statement, the MEA said India has also expressed grave concern at the reports of attempts being made during the ongoing visit of the Indian pilgrims to Pakistan, "to incite communal disharmony and intolerance and promote secessionist tendencies with the objective of undermining India's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Indian Sikh pilgrims pose on a train bound for Pakistan at the railway station at Attari, some 35kms from Amritsar on November 21, 2018, as they prepare to leave on a Pakistani train bound for Lahore to mark the 549th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. - Thousands of Sikh pilgrims are travelling to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev which falls on November 23. Guru Nanak was the founder of the religion of Sikhism and the first of ten Sikh Gurus. (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP)

New Delhi: India on Friday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the alleged harassment of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad and the denial of access to Indian Sikh pilgrims visiting that country. The Ministry of External Affairs said consular officials of the Indian High Commission were "harassed and denied access" to meet Indian pilgrims at Gurudwara Nankana Sahib and Gurudwara Sacha Sauda on November 21 and 22. It said the access was denied despite the Pakistan Foreign Ministry granting them prior travel permission. In a statement, the MEA said India has also expressed grave concern at the reports of attempts being made during the ongoing visit of the Indian pilgrims to Pakistan, "to incite communal disharmony and intolerance and promote secessionist tendencies with the objective of undermining India's sovereignty and territorial integrity". There were reports that pro-Khalistani banners were shown to the Indian pilgrims in Pakistan. ALSO READ: Baloch Liberation Army behind attack on Chinese Consulate in Karachi? It said Pakistan has been called upon to take all measures to not allow its territory to be used for any "hostile propaganda" and support for "secessionist tendencies" against India.