New Delhi/Chandigarh, Nov 14: Responding to an invitation extended to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to attend the World Punjabi Conference in Lahore as chief guest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) invoked India’s policy on engagement with Pakistan, making it clear that political clearances for foreign visits are evaluated in accordance with the nation’s overall diplomatic policy.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India expects everyone to adhere to its national policy on foreign relations and indicated that Mann’s proposed visit—scheduled for November 27 to 29—would be assessed within that framework. “When it comes to relations with foreign countries, we have a national policy and expect everybody to abide by it. As far as political clearances for dignitaries visiting abroad are concerned, an assessment is made by this ministry, in line with its overall policy and processed accordingly,” Jaiswal said.
Underscoring New Delhi’s hardline posture following the Pahalgam terror attack, Jaiswal added, “As far as our position on Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack is concerned, it should be amply clear to all as to where we stand”.
Alongside Mann’s invitation, Pakistan’s Minister for Minority Affairs and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Ramesh Singh Arora has also invited the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker and legislators to visit Kartarpur Sahib and other Sikh shrines across the border. The development has turned the spotlight back on the MEA’s political clearance mechanism, which previously saw the ministry deny permission in August for Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s proposed trip to the US after deeming the programme inappropriate for his office.
