Anupam Kher is to attend the Karachi literature festival on Friday
Actor Anupam Kher said today that he was "sad and disappointed" that he was denied a visa by Pakistan to attend the Karachi literature festival. He says he has cancelled his visit.
"I am very sad and disappointed that out of 18 participants, 17 were given visa and I was denied it," Mr Kher said.
"Has my visa been denied because I speak about India's rich tradition of tolerance or I am a Kashmiri Pandit who may expose the Pakistan terror nexus?" he questioned.
Mr Kher said he had been "informed that the Pakistan foreign ministry had denied permission" for his visa.
Pakistani officials claim that the veteran actor had not even applied for a visa.
"No visa application was submitted to us, this is what the reality is," Pakistan Envoy Abdul Basit said. Mr Basit also tweeted to the actor.
The Karachi literature festival is to start on Friday.
Mr Kher, 60, was recently named for one of the country's top civilian awards, Padma Bhushan.