ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, while categorically rejecting the Indian allegations of “attempts to incite Indian pilgrims” on the issue of ‘Khalistan’ on Tuesday said that by spreading such falsehoods, India has chosen to deliberately stoke further controversy around the visit of Sikh pilgrims who are currently attending the Baisakhi and Khalsa Janamdin ceremonies in Pakistan.

According to a Foreign Office, Pakistan welcomed Hindu and Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including India to attend Baisakhi and Khalsa Janamdin ceremonies in the country.

The FO statement further said that Pakistani authorities have always made arrangements to extend maximum facilitation to the visiting Sikh Yatrees.

The members of the Sikh community appreciated the assistance and cooperation extended to them during their visits to sacred places in Pakistan.

The Sikh community has been protesting against the Government of India for screening a controversial movie in India, which hurt their religious sentiments.

These protests had started in India and other parts of the world before the Sikh Yatrees arrived in Pakistan.

In view of the charged situation and the explicit refusal of the Sikh Yatrees to meet Indian officials, the Indian High Commissioner cancelled his visit on 14 April 2018. Indian attempts to distort the truth and obfuscate facts are unethical and regrettable.

“It is ironic that the country whose highest officials are on record for statements against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan, choose to indulge in blatant hypocrisy by twisting facts.”

The FO statement added, “We remain committed to continuing such cooperation, which is in line with our religious ethos, traditions of hospitality, and provisions of the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines.

“No amount of Indian propaganda could succeed in turning this right into a wrong.”

The Government of India should respect international and inter-state norms, respect all religions, especially minorities, and refrain from indulging in pointless provocation which only vitiates an already charged environment to the detriment of all, it added.