New Delhi, May 14: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin on Wednesday, in an official statement has stated that Pakistan’s action of asking two journalists from India to leave the country is unfortunate and regrettable.
“It is regrettable and unfortunate that the two Indian correspondents in Pakistan have been asked to leave prematurely and suddenly only a few months after their arrival there. Not allowing independent journalists to function is a retrograde step especially as free flow of information between India and Pakistan has long been recognized as an important confidence building measure,” Akbaruddin said.
Two Indian journalists posted in Pakistan have been asked to leave the country without reason.
Snehesh Alex Phillip of the Press Trust of India and Meena Menon of Hindu were reportedly told verbally to leave the country by May 20.
Their visas too have not been renewed for the last two months.
According to media reports, these two journalists have been in Pakistan since August last year. Their visas were valid till March. Thereafter, they were reportedly issued letters informing them that their application for visa renewal was being processed.
Pakistan and India have an agreement that each is allowed two journalists in the other’s capital: one from a news agency and one from a newspaper.
