The twists and turns in the love story between Sania Mirza and her Pakistani beau Shoaib Malik has the potential of developing into a diplomatic row, considering the volatile relations between the two countries.
Relations have been icy since the Mumbai terror strikes and the previous meeting of the two foreign secretaries did little to ease that. Both governments are aware of this and are trying their best to make sure that a personal affair does not take the dimensions of an over-hyped India-Pakistan script.
The Pakistan high commission refused to drawn into the controversy. “Leave India, Pakistan out of a private affair, please,’’ a diplomat who wished not to be named, said.
The ministry of external affairs also chose to stay out. “We have nothing to do with this. This is purely a personal matter,” an official said. “Don’t drag the respective governments into this.”
Both countries are hoping that the Shoaib-Sania-Ayesha tangle is resolved quickly so that there are no repercussions on the India-Pakistan front.
Malik called the Pakistan high commission on Monday and spoke to envoy Shahid Malik and his deputy Rifat Masood. Both assured the cricketer that they were there for him if he needed help.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said in Islamabad that the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi was in touch with Indian authorities and had asked for information on the FIR filed against Malik. Basit said Islamabad had “to wait till all details of the FIR are with us”. But the high commission in New Delhi has not approached the ministry of external affairs regarding the FIR or details about the Shoaib Malik case.
Many in the Indian establishment were surprised at the Hyderabad Police’s decision to get Malik to surrender his passport for examination by the authorities.
But KTS Tulsi, a senior advocate, said, “The police is perfectly within its rights to take his passport for examination.’’ However, he said the police should use reason and common sense in dealing with this high-profile case. They must also ask the Siddiquis why they’re lodging the complaint now, seven years after the so-called marriage.
