Islamabad, Oct 14

Former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, who was in Mumbai for the launch of his book, said movie idol Dilip Kumar had visited Pakistan twice on secret missions for the Indian government.

â€œAfter Mondayâ€™s violent protests against my visit, I thought I should spend some time with our great apostles of peace,â€ Kasuri told Dawn on Tuesday.

â€œI met followers of Mahatma Gandhi at his Mani Bhavan former home. Gandhiâ€™s indefinite fast to get Pakistan its monetary dues from India is not known in Pakistan. Then I visited the Jinnah House, and it broke my heart to see it in disuse and disrepair when it could have easily become Pakistanâ€™s consulate in Mumbai.â€

His meeting with Dilip Kumar was the highlight of his last day in Mumbai. â€œHis wife Saira Banu told me that Dilip Saahab had been twice on secret missions to PakisÂtan. He was flown to IslamaÂbad by the Indian government in special aircraft. I believe one of the visits took place during the Zia ul Haq period. The other was more recent.â€

Dilip Kumar visited Pakistan twice on secret missions: Kasuri