NEW DELHI, Oct 20: Amid rising tension over Pakistani artists working in Bollywood, the Government today clarified that there was no blanket ban on their visits to India or participation in any event.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup made it clear that the Government has not taken any decision on banning Pakistani artists. Although he regretted Pakistan’s move to impose a complete ban on the airing of Indian content in the country.
“The decision is unfortunate and displays Pakistan’s lack of self-confidence,” he said. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) at its meeting in Islamabad directed all satellite television channels and radio stations to abide by the blanket ban, which goes into effect at 1500 hrs local time on October 21.
The move is being seen as retaliatory action in the backdrop of Pakistani artists facing ire of political parties in India, especially from Shiv Sena in Maharashtra in the wake of Uri attack and subsequent surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army.
Mr Swarup stonewalled all the questions on Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar’s briefing to the Parliamentary panel on the surgical strikes, saying that the deliberations of the standing committee were confidential. (UNI)
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