Two Indian activists were invited to a security dialogue in Pakistan that was called off after the visas of most foreign delegates were cancelled by authorities, the organiser of the event said on Sunday.
“The theme of the dialogue was peace, and the event was scheduled around the International Day of Peace. As the process didn’t move forward, PIPS subsequently invited one of the Indian participants to join the dialogue virtually. Several speculative reports in sections of the Pakistani media in recent days had raised questions about the dialogue, especially the possible participation of Indian delegates at a time when relations between the two countries remain fraught.
Both were associated with efforts to promote peace and dialogue between India and Pakistan and had engaged in virtual and in-person interactions with Pakistani former diplomats, military officials and academics in the past, it said. PIPS followed the prescribed procedures for their participation and formally communicated with the Secretary Interior, Secretary Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities,” the statement said. “His name was subsequently removed from the programme after PIPS received a communication from an individual identifying himself as an official of the Ministry of Defence, requesting that Indian names be removed from the agenda,” the statement said. Since no Indian participant attended or participated in the dialogue, either in-person or online, the presence of Indian delegates “cannot be cited as a reason for the cancellation of the event”, PIPS said. These reports also claimed the foreign delegates were advised to seek tourist visas, but PIPS rejected this and said officials of Pakistan’s foreign ministry were involved in facilitating and processing visa-related matters. “Participants submitted their applications along with invitations to the conference, and visa counsellors also contacted PIPS for verification where required,” the statement said. PIPS also dismissed speculation about funding for the event and said the sponsors and supporting organisations included the European Union, the Norwegian embassy and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).
In a statement issued on Sunday to clarify the cancellation of the event, PIPS noted that two Indian activists, Om Parkash Shah and Sudheendra Kulkarni, had been invited to participate in the dialogue.
