Islamabad: Pakistani singer Rahat Fatah Ali Khan, who was briefly detained in India for possessing undeclared foreign currency, on Wednesday said he will visit the country again if 'respectfully' invited, even as he admitted guilt and claimed he was 'unaware' of Indian custom laws.
Rahat,37, dismissed the impression that he was made a target in India.
Khan who returned to Pakistan on Wednesday following a brief detention in India on charges of possessing undeclared foreign currency, said he would travel to India again if he was invited in an honourable manner.
He admitted that he was guilty of the charges levelled against him but said at the same time that he was not aware of Indian laws regarding the possession of foreign currency.
Asked if he would visit India again, Khan replied: "I will go to India if they respectfully call me."
Khan made the remarks while talking to the media after his return. He said his detention was due to the lack of knowledge
about Indian custom laws.
The nephew of late qawwali legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan thanked Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Pakistan's High Commission in India Shahid Malik for helping in his release.
He dismissed the impression that he was made a target in India like Adnan Sami, another singer of Pakistani origin.
The 37-year-old singer was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday on the charge that he was carrying USD 124,000 that he had not declared.
Rahat and his entire troupe, numbering around 16, including his manager Maroof and event manager were detained and their interrogation were underway tonight several hours after they were held by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials.
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer this year for 'Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji' from the movie 'Ishqiya'.