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Pakistan has denied visas to Indian yoga trainers ahead of World Yoga Day on June 21 following threats by al Qaeda and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan to attack yoga events in three Pakistani cities, according to sources in that country's government.
The Art of Living Foundation in Bangalore confirmed that their yoga day events in Pakistan were cancelled due to the threat. Days before the visa freeze, Pakistan's Interior Ministry had issued a confidential note warning that al Qaeda and TTP have threatened to simultaneously target Yoga Day events of Sri Sri Ravishankar's foundation in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
Mirror is in possession of the letter dated June 12 written by the director general of Pakistan's National Crisis Management Cell and addressed to a host of top officials of Pakistan's Punjab and Sind province under whose jurisdiction the three cities lie. Copied on the note are the offices of the Pakistan president, prime minister and the ISI boss, besides the chiefs of the army, navy and air force and the heads of military intelligence and military operations.
The letter mentions the targets as Yoga Day sessions at the Daman-e-Koh hills to the north of Islamabad, the public monument Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore and the Clifton Beach in Karachi - all of which are planned starting from 6 am of June 21.
Pakistani law enforcement and intelligence sources told Mirror that while an attack on these venues was next to impossible to execute, considering their prominence, security has been beefed up.
While both TTP and al Qaeda have refrained from issuing specific public statements, sources from the banned outfits confirmed that they have constituted 'death brigades' to attack Art of Living events.
A source in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad confirmed that Pakistan has rejected visas to the Indian yoga trainers. Sources in the Indian ministry of external affairs confirmed that at least two yoga instructors were denied visas but they do not want to make an issue out of it.
"Yoga Day will still be celebrated in Pakistan," said the Indian High Commission source in Islamabad. "We have made elaborate plans to mark the day inside the commission. But they have turned down a request for visa for ayoga instructor."
Yoga is widely considered un-Islamic by majority of conservative Muslims in Pakistan. Despite previous threats, the Pakistan Chapter of AOL has 10,000 members, chiefly from the country's elite classes.
On March 9, 2014, the Art of Living yoga centre at the elite Bani Gala's Peace Street on the banks of Islamabad's Rawal Lake was set ablaze.
The yoga centre was inaugurated by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 2012. It became popular among Islamabad's elite, especially youngsters.
Pak scraps Yoga Day after Qaeda, Taliban threat - Mumbai Mirror
The Art of Living Foundation in Bangalore confirmed that their yoga day events in Pakistan were cancelled due to the threat. Days before the visa freeze, Pakistan's Interior Ministry had issued a confidential note warning that al Qaeda and TTP have threatened to simultaneously target Yoga Day events of Sri Sri Ravishankar's foundation in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
Mirror is in possession of the letter dated June 12 written by the director general of Pakistan's National Crisis Management Cell and addressed to a host of top officials of Pakistan's Punjab and Sind province under whose jurisdiction the three cities lie. Copied on the note are the offices of the Pakistan president, prime minister and the ISI boss, besides the chiefs of the army, navy and air force and the heads of military intelligence and military operations.
The letter mentions the targets as Yoga Day sessions at the Daman-e-Koh hills to the north of Islamabad, the public monument Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore and the Clifton Beach in Karachi - all of which are planned starting from 6 am of June 21.
Pakistani law enforcement and intelligence sources told Mirror that while an attack on these venues was next to impossible to execute, considering their prominence, security has been beefed up.
While both TTP and al Qaeda have refrained from issuing specific public statements, sources from the banned outfits confirmed that they have constituted 'death brigades' to attack Art of Living events.
A source in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad confirmed that Pakistan has rejected visas to the Indian yoga trainers. Sources in the Indian ministry of external affairs confirmed that at least two yoga instructors were denied visas but they do not want to make an issue out of it.
"Yoga Day will still be celebrated in Pakistan," said the Indian High Commission source in Islamabad. "We have made elaborate plans to mark the day inside the commission. But they have turned down a request for visa for ayoga instructor."
Yoga is widely considered un-Islamic by majority of conservative Muslims in Pakistan. Despite previous threats, the Pakistan Chapter of AOL has 10,000 members, chiefly from the country's elite classes.
On March 9, 2014, the Art of Living yoga centre at the elite Bani Gala's Peace Street on the banks of Islamabad's Rawal Lake was set ablaze.
The yoga centre was inaugurated by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 2012. It became popular among Islamabad's elite, especially youngsters.
Pak scraps Yoga Day after Qaeda, Taliban threat - Mumbai Mirror
