New Delhi, June 23
Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid today applied for an entry permit for travelling by the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus on June 30 despite a recent controversy about his alleged involvement in running terrorist training camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The Indian government is unlikely to play ball and, as of today, there is no way that the UPA government would give the green signal to the Pakistani minister for the visit. Separatist leader Yasin Malik had earlier this month kicked off a political storm during his visit to Pakistan by alleging that Sheikh Rashid used to run terrorist training camps in occupied Kashmir. Though Sheikh Rashid denied the allegation and Mr Malik himself gave clarifications, the controversy has just refused to die down.

The Ministry of External Affairs declined to get involved in a guessing game on whether Sheikh Rashid would be given the entry permit or not. In reply to a question regarding possible visit by Sheikh Rashid, MEA spokesperson Navtej Sarna merely said: “We have received the application which will be processed in due course.”

Sheikh Rashid's application specifically mentions June 30 as the desired date of travel.

The thinking of the Government of India on Sheikh Rashid's desire to travel by the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus was reflected in certain remarks of Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal, who talked to reporters in his North Block office today after a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Jaiswal said the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service was meant for common people and not for VVIPs.