ISLAMABAD, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned an Indian diplomat to register its disappointment over denial of visas to Pakistani Squash players.
Officials have said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on Monday refused to grant visas to four Pakistani squash players, who were scheduled to take part in the Asian Senior Individual Championship which is set to start in India on Wednesday.
The four-member Pakistan team comprising Farhan Mehboob, Farhan Zaman, Tayyab Aslam and Waqar Mehboob were supposed to participate in the mega regional event.
"It is highly regrettable that the players of Champion title holder, Pakistan, were not facilitated by India to defend the title", Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said on his official Twitter.
Indian media had reported this month that the Indian government has decided to slow down visas to Pakistani nationals after a Pakistani military court awarded death penalty to an alleged India spy.
Secretary of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Tahir Sultan says the PSF has filed a complaint with the world and Asian squash bodies against the Indian High Commission for delay in issuance of visas to a four-member Pakistan team.
He said the PSF had submitted applications for visas of players and officials on March 17.
