Islamabad: The Pakistan foreign office has sought a report on how and why an Indian minister crossed into Pakistani territory at the Wagah border "in violation of all rules and regulations".
Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh's "stroll on Pakistani soil is being seen by some diplomatic observers as a show of disrespect for Pakistan's sovereignty", The News reported on Sunday.
Accompanied by Indian officials, including Amritsar Deputy Commissioner K.S. Pannu and some Border Security Force personnel, Ramesh is reported to have walked up to the conference hall of the Pakistan Rangers, about 40 yards inside Pakistan.
"The government in Islamabad has taken a serious view of the incident as it does not comply with diplomatic norms. The interior ministry has also asked the officials concerned to submit their report about the incident," The News said.
Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said he could comment only after receiving a report.
A similar incident is reported to have taken place soon after partition in 1947 when former Indian Army chief General K.M. Cariappa drove to Lahore in his vehicle when former Pakistan Army chief General Musa Khan was commanding the Lahore garrison.
"They were then brigadiers and were friends since before independence. On seeing the Indian brigadier in his garrison outside his office, Brigadier Musa shouted at him and ordered him to return to his soil immediately otherwise he would be arrested or shot," The News said.
