Amritsar, July 12: In what could trigger a political row, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has invited Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to Punjab to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Besides Imran Khan, Chief Minister and Governor of Pakistan's Punjab province have been invited as well by SGPC, the apex body of Sikhs which manages Gurdwaras worldwide.

"We have invited Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for participating in grand Nagar Kirtan beginning from Gurudwara Nankana Sahib to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550th birth anniversary on July 25," SGPC President GS Longowal told news agency ANI. "Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sri Amritsar wishes to have your personal presence when this 100-day-long procession commences," the invite stated. India Lodges Protest With Pakistan After Unidentified Men Forcibly Enter Disused Indian Consulate in Karachi.

Governor of Pakistan's Punjab, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar have also been invited. The invitation has come at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan are at a peak following the dastardly Pulwama terror attack. Pakistan Welcomes Indian Media to Attend 2nd Meeting on Kartarpur Corridor.

Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation in Balakot on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and violated the Indian air space.

The Indian Air Force pushed them back, however, a MiG-21 crashed during the aerial combat. Pakistan captured its pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, who was handed over to India on March 1.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 12, 2019 01:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).