Pakistani diplomats barred from Jaipur literary fest

E-Paper | May 15, 2026

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People listen to a speaker during a session at the Jaipur Literature Festival. -Photo by AP

NEW DELHI: The long-standing hostility between India and Pakistan has extended to the Jaipur Literary Festival, with New Delhi refusing to allow 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.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said Friday 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 which brings together tens of thousands of literature enthusiasts and writers.

Indian officials say all diplomats need official approval from India's External Affairs Ministry to travel out of New Delhi.

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Khan

Jan 25, 2013 03:32pm

Typical Indian mindset and Dawn writers are stuffing in our throat about cordial relationship with India and trying to undo the independence of Pakistan through there blogs.

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Junaid Hashmat

Jan 25, 2013 03:29pm

It truely depicts the mentality of Indian government...!

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Blitzer

Jan 25, 2013 03:31pm

"Indian officials say all diplomats need official approval from India

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Ravi kumar Jha

Jan 25, 2013 03:31pm

pretty uncalled for...!!!!!!!!

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Shochi

Jan 26, 2013 02:38am

Sir, Do you know who Akbar S. Ahmed is? Perhaps you should look him up before posting such great ideas. Your question would have been more profound if you questioned why they were barred.

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TRP

Jan 26, 2013 02:34am

Good job by the ministry. These "diplomats" are probably spies, or terrorist managers. The Pakistanis have no good in any of their intentions. As just one example, look at Javed Naqvi, the Pakistani news correspondent in Delhi. EVERY article of his consists of taking some Indian event, festival, custom or item of history and viciously bad-mouthing it.

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NASAH (USA)

Jan 26, 2013 02:11am

Has Pakistan put restrictions on Indian diplomats' travel in Pakistan ? If not then it is sheer pettiness.

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nimesh

Jan 25, 2013 11:29pm

I would just get permission to visit Ajmer which can't be denied due to religious reasons and then put on some shades and sneak off to Jaipur, which is under 90 miles away. Nobody would notice or care.

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Tjirus

Jan 25, 2013 04:54pm

Once you take the CSS then you can comment on how illiterate your diplomats are

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UNITED STATES OF INDIA

Jan 25, 2013 04:52pm

Verry well said Hassan bhai...

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danish

Jan 25, 2013 05:19pm

Immature reaction by mature Indian leaders who know how to deflect public's attention from their own failures. Hence, ignore it.

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karim

Jan 25, 2013 03:19pm

Petty move by India.

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jiya

Jan 25, 2013 06:39pm

seriously you are so naive

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Wajahat Hussain

Jan 25, 2013 06:36pm

We need to pursue knowledge anywhere; but we also need to determine where we are un-welcome! India is a neighbor we must learn and respect to live with but on mutual respect. Pakistan must put its own house in order and stabilize its self economically. When we start respecting ourselves others will follow suit!

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Mr.India

Jan 25, 2013 06:13pm

Hassan...At least, they will wear good suits to represent Pakistan even though the 'diplomats' have no clue what is happening :)

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Usman Malik (@UsmanMalik)

Jan 25, 2013 06:17pm

What an illiterate and illinformed opinion hassan! Probably you never had the privilage to be in company of a Pakistani diplomatic corps officer. Maybe you should start with reading more about the respected Mr Akbar Salahuddin Ahmed or even Hussain Haqqani (irrespective of what one might think of his liberal tendencies) who are much recent diplomats.

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Mr.India

Jan 25, 2013 06:10pm

Correction..'Indian officials say all Pakistani diplomats need official approval from India

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Ayub

Jan 25, 2013 05:55pm

it is time to recall our ambassador and diplomatic staff from that country; we can't ever be friends with these people.

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janaan

Jan 25, 2013 04:00pm

our semi literate diplomats...are you refferring to indian diplomats////

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Hindu

Jan 25, 2013 03:55pm

They wants to go to literary festival to improve their american accent

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Jamal

Jan 25, 2013 03:52pm

This is all you could think about? What a shameless comment. What world you live in that you have no clue about your country

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Secular no more

Jan 25, 2013 03:36pm

Well said Hassan....!!! there are Pakistani writers....only the diplomats were not allowed...no no conspiracy here guys.

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hassan

Jan 25, 2013 02:14pm

i wonder what our mostly semi literate diplomats have to do with literary fetival, maybe just photoshoot.

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