Pakistan on Monday, 25 April, deplored a recent University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) joint notice advising Indian students against pursuing studies at Pakistani institutions and universities.
Subsequently, the Pakistan Foreign Office (PFO) has sought for clarification in this regard from the Indian government.
"Pakistan reserves the right to take appropriate measures in response to this openly discriminatory and inexplicable action by India,” a statement issued by Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs read.
The UGC and AICTE on Friday had issued a joint advisory dissuading Indian students against taking admission in any college/university in Pakistan. Any Indian citizen or expatriate of India who wishes to take admission in any degree college in Pakistan shall not be eligible for employment in India on the basis of such educational qualification acquired in Pakistan.
'Incurable Obsession with Pakistan': PFO on India's Decision
“Pakistan strongly deplores the so-called ‘Public Notice’ issued by the University Grants Ed Commission of India and the All India Council for Technical Education, advising students not to seek higher education in Pakistan and warning them of being denied employment in case they choose to do so,” the statement read further, reported news agency PTI.
Indian government is driven by an "incurable obsession with Pakistan" and thus, prodding students against enrolling in 'quality' institutions, expressed Pakistan.
“It is regrettable that driven by its incurable obsession with Pakistan, the Government of India is unabashedly coercing the students in order to deter them from pursuing quality education of their choice,” the PFO stated further.
Similar Notice for Studying in China
In a similar official joint notice, UGC and AICTE also discouraged Indian students from studying in China, saying they "do not recognise such degree courses conducted only in online mode without prior approval".
The UGC had previously said, "In view of the above, students are advised to exercise due diligence in choosing where to pursue higher education to avoid further problems in employment or higher studies."
(With inputs from IANS and PTI.)
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