People-to-people contact to continue, says Pakistan envoy

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 24

A day after Indian envoy Ajay Bisaria was denied access to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan, Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan in India Syed Haider Shah on Sunday said such incidents should not hinder people-to-people interaction between the two countries.

“People-to-people interaction will continue to strengthen. We will ensure that we fulfil our responsibility towards building goodwill between India and Pakistan,” he told The Tribune.

Shah was in the city to attend an Urdu poetry convention.

He also said Pakistan would ensure that Indian religious “jathas” were welcomed at every step and efforts were being made to help Indian pilgrims visiting Pakistan.

“We are looking into the matter. Though our efforts have always focused on maintaining healthy diplomatic relations, such incidents sometimes occur and should be taken in one’s stride,” Shah said.

This was the second time that Pakistan denied access to Bisaria to meet visiting Indian pilgrims.

Meanwhile, Shah said Urdu and Punjabi languages were an integral part of Punjabi culture on both sides. “I belong to Peshawar. So my understanding of the language is limited. But Urdu and Punjabi are rich languages and share a common cultural history,” he added.