Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Thursday deferred his official visit to New Delhi by three days, owing to previous commitments. As per the revised schedule, Malik is expected to arrive on December 14. On Wednesday, Pakistani media in its news reports had criticised Malik for planning his birthday celebration in India, prompting the Pak minister to clarify on his proposed visit. “Media is televising that I will be celebrating my birthday in Agra? Media should have asked me if I am going on 12th to India or not? “Malik tweeted on Thursday morning.
According to the Home Ministry’s invitation, Malik was expected to reach New Delhi on December 11 and had accepted the offer to spend his birthday at Taj Mahal on December 12. Malik on Thursday tweeted that he was grateful to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for the kind gesture of inviting him to celebrate his birthday in Agra; however, he was unable to do so due to a tripartite meeting in Turkey and had requested India to change the dates of his official visit.
“The Pak High commissioner India was informed in the morning that I will not be able to visit from 11th to 13th as I had to be at a meeting in Turkey. The new proposed dates of my visit are 14 to 16th. Our high commissioner is finalising the programme,” Malik said.
However, sources said till Thursday evening, the Pakistan High Commissioner had not forwarded the schedule of Rehman Malik’s visit.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary R K Singh on Thursday held a high-level meeting comprising officials from NIA, intelligence agencies and internal security division to discuss the agenda for the talks with the Pak Minister including operationalisation of the new liberal visa regime.