Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit has called up Anupam Kher and offered him a visa to travel to that country if he has applied for the same, but the actor declined the offer, saying that he has already taken up other assignments on the scheduled dates.
Officials at the Pakistan High Commission said Basit had called up Kher on Tuesday, after the actor said he was denied visa to attend the Karachi Literary Festival (KLF), while 17 others were issued the travel document.
Basit today tweeted, "@AnupamPkher you are always welcome Sir. You are a great artiste; we respect and admire you." Replying to Basit, Kher said, "Thank you Mr. @abasitpak1 for your call & offering me visa to visit Karachi. I appreciate it. Unfortunately i've given away those dates now."
In another tweet on Tuesday night, the Pakistani envoy had said, "@AnupamPkher sorry Sir I don't know who told you about this so-called NoC, we are still to receive your visa application and passport."
Kher has been denied visa by the Pakistan government to attend the Karachi Literary Festival, prompting him to suggest that the decision may have been influenced by his stand on the issue of Kashmiri Pandits and his support for PM Narendra Modi.
"Dear @abasitpak1, Reality remains that Pak Interior Ministry refused to grant NOC for my visa. 17 others invited also didn't apply for visa," Kher said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Kher, who said he has been denied a Pakistani visa for the third time, was one of the 18 Indians invited to the four-day KLF, starting Friday. The other 17 invitees, including senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and actor Nandita Das, have been granted visa.