India Withdraws Visa To Chinese Dissident Leader After Beijing Protests

India has withdrawn visa granted to a Chinese dissident after Beijing’s strong protest, say government sources.

Dolkun Isa, a Germany-based Uyghur activist, had been granted visa to attend a conference in Dharamsala this week.

The move was seen as linked to China blocking New Delhi’s proposal at the UN to designate Pakistan-based Jaish e Mohammad Chief Masood Azhar a terrorist.

China accuses Dolkun Isa of terror activities in the remote Xinjiang region where there is frequent violence between the local Uyghur population and government forces. Isa was given asylum in Germany in the 1990s.

Mr Isa has said in a statement that after granting him a tourist e-visa, India bad cancelled it on Saturday: “I recognize and understand the difficult position that the Indian government found itself, and regret that my trip has generated such unwarranted controversy.”

Speaking to NDTV, Mr Isa said he was given no reason but “the Chinese government was unhappy, they labelled me as a terrorist, maybe that’s the reason.”

China accuses Dolkun Isa of terror activities in the remote Xinjiang region where there is frequent violence between the local Uyghur population and government forces. Mr Isa was given asylum in Germany in the 1990s.

Home Minister sources denied any pressure from China and claimed the red corner notice “could not be detected at the time of grant of e-visa to him.”

Dolkun Isa had last week written to the Indian mission asking for a guarantee that he will not be arrested in India since he has an Interpol notice against him.