Abdul Basit cancels trip to Indian city following attack

Published July 28, 2015
“My visit to Chandigarh has been cancelled as the Indian Ministry of External Affairs did not allow two of my colleagues to travel with me,” said Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit. -AFP/File
“My visit to Chandigarh has been cancelled as the Indian Ministry of External Affairs did not allow two of my colleagues to travel with me,” said Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit. -AFP/File

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has cancelled his official two-day visit to the Indian city of Chandigarh due to security reasons.

The two day official trip was to commence on July 29.

“Chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana have refused to host the Pakistani high commissioner after yesterday’s incident in Gurdaspur,” said a source at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.

Read: Gun battle at Indian Punjab police station ends, ten killed

“My visit to Chandigarh has been cancelled as the Indian Ministry of External Affairs did not allow two of my colleagues to travel with me,” said Abdul Basit.

The Pakistani envoy was scheduled to deliver a lecture at the University of Punjab in Chandigarh and speak at a think tank, both events have now been cancelled as well.

Read more: Drone shot down by Pak army was flown from India, says ISPR

The development comes after a militant attack on an Indian police station in the state of Punjab which killed 10 people yesterday.

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.

Both nations had witnessed a recent thaw in their relations following the meeting at Ufa between the prime ministers of Pakistan and Indian last month.

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...