Kolkata: The Indo-Pak World T20 clash has led to several controversies including a change in match venue from Dharamshala to Kolkata’s Eden Gardens over security concerns on part of Pakistan. In the latest in the string of controversies, India has denied seven Pakistani diplomats permission to visit Kolkata for the high-voltage World T20 encounter between India and Pakistan on March 19 due to security reasons.
Terming the development as unfortunate, an official at the Pakistan High Commission here, who wished not to be named, said on Tuesday that the diplomats intended to boost the morale of their cricket team. "It is unfortunate that India, despite being the host of the World Cup, is refusing to fulfill its obligations and creating hurdles," he said.
The official told IANS that appropriate steps would be taken and the "Indian deputy high commissioner in Islamabad will also be summoned".
Meanwhile, it has been reliably learnt that the External Affairs ministry has denied permission to the diplomats in question as they belong to the Inter-Services Intelligence and their travel posed a purported security threat.
(With IANS inputs)
