For visiting Pak PM: lunch with Khurshid, protests in Ajmer

Ajmer: Pakistan's Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf flew in with about 50 people for a private visit this morning and offered prayers at the Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan. However, the brief trip to the 13th century shrine was marred by protests.

The 62-year-old Pakistani PM also faced a symbolic boycott at the dargah. The spiritual head of the sufi shrine did not assist him in prayers as a mark of protest over the mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers in January.

Opposing the visit, local lawyers and representatives of market associations staged protests.

After he offered a chadar (ceremonial cloth inscribed with religious verses) and floral tributes, Mr Ashraf prayed for peace in the world and prosperity in Pakistan.

"Me and my family members are fortunate to get the opportunity to visit the dargah. I thank you Garib nawaz. I wish for peace in the world and for peace and prosperity in Pakistan," the Pakistani PM wrote in Urdu in the visitors book.

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Mr Ashraf, along with his wife Nusrat and some of his relatives among others, offered prayers at the Dargah and stayed inside the historic shrine for about 30 minutes. He was assisted by the khadims (people who escort visiting dignitaries and assist pilgrims at the dargah) in his prayers.

Clad in a cream coloured sherwani, Mr Ashraf carried a 42-metre multi-coloured velvet Chadar and flowers on his head for offering it to the Sufi saint's mausoleum where a 'ziyarat' was performed by his family khadim Syed Bilal Chisti. Another ceremony, turban tying (Dastarbandi), also took place in the shrine.

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There were tight security arrangements for Mr Ashraf's visit. Over 1000 police personnel guarded the entire stretch from the helipad to the dargah.

The police had to use mild force to disperse a group of advocates who had gathered at Favvara circle to show black flags to the Prime Minister on his way back to the Ghughra helipad on the outskirts of the city. The VVIP cavalcade, however, passed through a different route and reached the helipad, police said.

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Before his visit to the dargah, Mr Ashraf met External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid over lunch at Jaipur. After the meeting, Mr Khurshid said he did not discuss issues like terrorism with Mr Ashraf because he is on a private visit to India.

"This was a private visit. It was a pilgrimage (for Ashraf). This was not the occasion nor did I have the authority to discuss such issues," Mr Khurshid told reporters after the lunch and added, "Today it was a private visit. There was no official talk. We will do it at the appropriate time." (Terror was not discussed with Pak PM: Salman Khurshid)

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In January this year, Pakistani troops mutilated the bodies of two Indian soldiers near Jammu. One of the soldiers was found with his head missing. Pakistan has denied that its troops attacked the men or mangled their bodies. Bilateral ties between the two countries have been strained since the incident.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament on Friday that there cannot be normalisation of ties with Pakistan unless "the terror machine still active there was brought under control."

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The BJP has questioned why the Indian government was going out of way to interact with the Pakistani leader. The government, however, insisted that it was only following basic protocol.

"In accordance with normal diplomatic protocol, we are extending him due courtesies," a spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said, while giving details of the Pakistan Prime Minister's trip.

While the Indian government has defended the "courtesy" extended to Mr Ashraf, the Pakistan Prime Minister did have to face a boycott and also protests in Ajmer.