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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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Comments (23) Closed
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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Jan 25, 2013 03:29pm
It truely depicts the mentality of Indian government...!
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Jan 25, 2013 03:31pm
"Indian officials say all diplomats need official approval from India
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Jan 25, 2013 03:31pm
pretty uncalled for...!!!!!!!!
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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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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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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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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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Jan 25, 2013 04:54pm
Once you take the CSS then you can comment on how illiterate your diplomats are
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Jan 25, 2013 04:52pm
Verry well said Hassan bhai...
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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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Jan 25, 2013 03:19pm
Petty move by India.
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Jan 25, 2013 06:39pm
seriously you are so naive
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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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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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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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Jan 25, 2013 06:10pm
Correction..'Indian officials say all Pakistani diplomats need official approval from India
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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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Jan 25, 2013 04:00pm
our semi literate diplomats...are you refferring to indian diplomats////
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Jan 25, 2013 03:55pm
They wants to go to literary festival to improve their american accent
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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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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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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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