Educationalists from Pakistan unable to attend the Indo-American Education Summit & Expo 2013

Updated on: Monday, February 04, 2013

Three educationalists from Pakistan failed to make an appearance at the Indo-American Education Summit & Expo 2013, which opened in the city on Saturday, for "not receiving" their visas from the Indian Embassy. While speculation was rife about the reason for this sudden glitch, organizers of the expo alleged that this was a "deliberate" move of the embassy, perhaps taken keeping in mind the current political tension between India and its neighbouring country.

"They had received a message from the Indian Embassy that their visas were ready. Even we got it (the message). Yet they could not come," said S B Anumolu, president of the Indus Foundation that is conducting the two-day event. He added, "They had registered for the meet long ago and their flights were also booked. But because they did not receive their visas till January 29 they were forced to cancel their plan. I think their visas were not deliberately dispatched."

The three educationalists expected to be part of the education expo were: Masood Hameed Khan, vice- chancellor of the Karachi-based Dow University of Health Sciences, his wife Rana Qamar Masood and Husnain Haider Tarar of Lahore's Superior University.

Criticising the stance, the organisers stressed on the need for the government to stop giving all events a political colour. "This is an educational summit and has nothing to do with politics. These people have been teachers all their life and were very keen on coming here. In fact, Pakistanis are very enthusiastic about India. All such incidents will only affect the relation between the two countries further," Anumolu, also a former IPS officer, said.

Only recently, the Pakistan women's cricket team visiting India for the World Cup tournament, was made to stay at the Barabati stadium club house in Odisha due to security concerns. The team's matches earlier scheduled to be held in Mumbai too were shifted to the state, for similar reasons.

Meanwhile, state minister for information technology & communications, Ponnala Lakshmaiah on Saturday inaugurated the summit, being attended by around 500 national and foreign universities from 30 countries. The state government and the Federation of AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPare also associated with the conference.

Incidentally, Union defence minister AK Antony had said on Friday that no hasty steps would be taken by the government to normalise diplomatic relations with Pakistan. "At the moment, tension on the Line of Control (LoC) is much reduced. But we cannot relax. Promises are not enough, we want to see that how these promises are translated into sincere action," Antony had said.

Educationalists from Pakistan unable to attend the Indo-American Education Summit & Expo 2013

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