Patna: Seeking to push forward the Indian
government`s initiative of improving ties with Pakistan,
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has directed the Indian
High Commission in Islamabad to issue visa to Pakistani
painter Md Awan, whose application was rejected earlier this
year.
In a letter to Shivanand Tiwary, Rajya Sabha member
and JD (U) General Secretary, Krishna referred to Tiwary`s
special mention in Rajya Sabha on March 8 regarding the demand
for issuance of visa to the Pakistani painter.
Stating that the matter was taken up with the Indian
High Commission in Islamabad, the letter said Md Awan had
applied for a visa early January and his application was
rejected for "lack of supporting documents."
The high commission has been directed to issue a visa
to Md Awan, he said in the letter, which was made available to
the media today.
Tiwary had demanded that Pakistani artists should be
given visas in order to promote neighbourly relations.
He cited an example of A Waseel Awan, a Pakistani
painter who made a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi with his blood.
Similarly, Pakistani writers who wanted to attend the
Jaipur literary festival were not given visas, he said in
Rajya Sabha adding that India was not helping moderate
elements in Pakistan.
PTI
