Friday, June 24 2005 17:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government today (Jun 24, 2005) rejected Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid's request to travel to Jammu and Kashmir by Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus on June 30.

The Government has declined to accord permission to Sheikh Rashid to visit Jammu and Kashmir taking into account "all relevant aspects involved," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters in New Delhi.

Sarna said the Government processed Sheikh Rashid's application and "has declined to accord permission taking into account all relevant aspects involved."

The spokesman did not give any further details but it is understood that Rashid has been declined the permission because the Government has taken serious note of reports that his farmhouse was used for training Kashmiri militants.

According to sources, Rashid had not even furnished in his application any address of relatives whom he wanted to meet, a mandatory requirement.

Following revelation by JKLF (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front) leader Yasin Malik in Pakistan that Rashid had organised a training camp in 1988-89 for 3500 militants at his farm house near Rawalpindi, Government had reacted sharply saying it was a matter of great concern.

New Delhi had held that it was particularly serious that "people directly involved in such activities continue to occupy high positions in Pakistan".