Actor Raza Murad has decided to write to the Prime Minister, President and the External Affairs Ministry to question the soft stand being taken by the Indian government towards Pakistani artistes, when Indian artistes are bluntly being refused visas for traveling to Pakistan.

"It is obvious that there is a very big discrepancy in the attitude of the Pakistani government towards Indian artistes when we are talking of Indo-Pak friendship ties. Pakistani artistes are welcomed with open arms here for commercial purposes, while Indian artistes are not allowed to put their foot on Pakistani soil, irrespective of the purpose of their visit. I want the government to take notice of it if not anything else," Raza Murad revealed.

"It is sad that the external affairs ministry did not even offer a reaction when an Indian artist who had put more than 34 years in the industry with 400 films to his credit was refused a visa," he added.

According to Murad, he knew that traveling to the moon was easier than traveling to Pakistan but it was the fresh wave of Indo-Pak ties that had encouraged him to plan a visit to Pakistan to meet old relatives, separated in the Partition days.

Murad has also expressed disappointment that not a single person from the film industry including Mahesh Bhatt, came forward to support his cause, when he was denied a visa.

"I saw that the whole industry came forward in full strength to support Shakti Kapoor and Aman Varma, despite the controversial issue. In comparison, mine was a genuine problem but forget support, there wasn't a single reaction. I had expected Mahesh Bhatt to react since he has been a great friend, who has often exchanged views on issues that he feels strongly about. I am surprised that I didn't hear anything from him though he is actively campaigning for Indo-Pak friendship, though Meera did offer her apologies on behalf of the Pakistani government," Murad averred.

Meanwhile, singer Abhijeet, who was denied a visa by the Pakistani Interior Ministry, has blamed it on the bureaucrats and the indifference of the External Affairs Ministry for the differential treatment being given to Indian artistes wanting to travel to Pakistan.

"The bureaucrats sitting in Pakistan are very clear that they will not have any Indian artistes in Pakistan, come what may. On the other hand, the Indian bureaucrats are more than liberal when it comes to clearing the visas of Pakistani artistes. ABIDA PARVEEN and GHULAM ALI, have performed on so many occasions, while ADNAN SAMI, has made a fortune here. Even STRINGS has made its place here, though it hardly has a following back home in Pakistan."

"The truth is that it takes just a few days for Pakistani artistes to get a clearance for traveling to India irrespective of the purpose of their visit, whereas Indian artistes are refused visas without any considerations. It is an insult to Indian artistes and to the whole initiative of Indo-Pak friendship," Abhijeet sighs.

He points out to the recent instance of Mahesh Bhatt who managed to secure a visa for the artistes in his film, and the five Pakistani artistes who performed at the Tsunami concert organized by the industry.

"It took Mahesh Bhatt just two days for him to get a stamp of approval. When the superstars of the industry got together for the tsunami concert, the Pakistani artistes were given full freedom to perform on stage and stay in India. I am told that their visa approval took only a couple of days."

"In my case, I was seeking the visa since four months, since the charity concert at which I was to perform, had been finalized at that time. However, I am in no mood to protest. It has only taught a lesson not to seek a visa again for performing in Pakistan," he says.