NEW DELHI - The long-standing hostility between India and Pakistan has extended to a literary festival, with New Delhi disallowing two Pakistani diplomats from attending the event.
The two New Delhi-based Pakistani diplomats had sought permission from India’s External Affairs Ministry to visit the historic city of Jaipur to attend a popular literary festival held there annually. Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that denial of permission did not specifically have anything to do with the festival but was a ‘coincidence’.
Several noted Pakistani writers are participating in the five-day festival.
One of the diplomats, chief of Pakistan High Commission’s media wing Manzoor Memon, said they were denied permission though they had registered themselves for the conference, reported The Hindu.
Mr Khurshid himself fielded questions about the issue, as the ministry invited journalists to the venue of his call on the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.