ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has summoned India's deputy high commissioner over what the ministry says is the harassment of diplomats and families of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
“The Indian Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. J.P. Singh, was summoned by Director General (South Asia & SAARC), Dr. Mohammad Faisal, and a strong protest was lodged at the maltreatment being meted out to the officials and families of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Tuesday night.
The official statement added that the officers, staff and, more regrettably, the families and children of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi “continue to face intense harassment, intimidation and outright violence from the Indian state agencies … These have escalated exponentially in the last few days."
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said that what he described as “deliberate bullying” is not confined to a single isolated occurrence, but continues unabated in a series of incidents, "especially targeting the children of our officers and staff."
“On 7 & 8 March 2018, the children of the officers of the mission were harassed while returning from school. Their cars were stopped by unknown persons who threatened the children and filmed them.”
The spokesman added that “all these incidents continue unabated despite repeated official protests lodged with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs at the highest level, and providing specific details of the culprits' vehicles. Our High Commission has also shared photographs identifying the individuals who forcibly halted and took pictures of the officer."
At the same time, the Indian media reported that New Delhi had also urged the authorities in Pakistan to make sure that the High Commission in Islamabad is allowed to perform routine jobs in an atmosphere free of harassment and intimidation.
Foreign Office summons Indian envoy about Pakistani diplomats’ harassment in New Delhi
Foreign Office summons Indian envoy about Pakistani diplomats’ harassment in New Delhi
Pakistan missions in Saudi Arabia establish helplines, airport teams to facilitate passengers
- Several regional countries shut down their airspace when Iran launched retaliatory strikes against US bases in Gulf nations last week
- Conflict has disrupted air travel, particularly for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims, other passengers in Kingdom’s western regions
Islamabad: The Pakistani embassy in Riyadh and the country’s consulate in Jeddah have set up helplines and deployed teams at regional airports to facilitate Pakistani passengers suffering flight disruptions, state media reported on Sunday.
Several regional countries shut down their airspace when Iran launched strikes against US bases in the Gulf following US-Israeli strikes on Iran last week. The conflict has affected key air corridors and forced airlines to cancel or reroute thousands of flights.
Hundreds of international and domestic flights have been canceled in Pakistan since the conflict began on Feb. 28, with most of them scheduled to fly between the South Asian country and destinations in the Middle East.
“As per the instructions of the Government of Pakistan, the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah have set up round the clock helplines and deployed teams at regional airports to facilitate Pakistani passengers,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The state media outlet noted that the Middle East war has disrupted air travel, particularly for Pakistani Umrah pilgrims and other passengers in the western regions of Saudi Arabia.
“The situation of Pakistani pilgrims and passengers in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah is stable, while minor operational restrictions and risk warnings are in place in these airspaces,” Radio Pakistan added.
Earlier this week, the Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA) denied media reports of a partial closure of the Pakistani airspace from Mar. 3 and Mar. 31.
It said Pakistan’s entire airspace remains fully open, safe, and available for all civil aviation traffic, including commercial flights. It added that alternative routing options are routinely used for affected flows.
“There are no restrictions on commercial operations, arrivals, departures, or overflights across Pakistan,” the PAA said. “Our air traffic controllers and airport teams are fully operational and managing traffic normally.”
