ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called back its high commissioner in New Delhi, Sohail Mahmood, for consultations. The decision was announced days after Islamabad lodged complaints over the harassment of its diplomatic staff and their families in India.
“Our high commissioner in New Delhi has been asked to come to Islamabad for consultations,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Faisal said on Thursday.
“This deliberate bullying is not confined to a single isolated event and continues unabated despite repeated official protests lodged with the Indian High Commission here, and also with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs at the highest level,” the spokesman said.
Aziz Ahmed Khan, Pakistan’s former high commissioner to New Delhi, told Arab News: “It shows the seriousness of the issue; under the Vienna Convention, it is the responsibility of the host country to provide security to diplomatic staff and their families.”
“Pakistan has been complaining about the harassment issue, but when it didn’t get a positive response from New Delhi, Islamabad called its high commissioner to get more details and consult on security issues for diplomatic staff,” Aziz said.
In a news briefing, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters that Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi also shared with the Indian External Affairs Ministry photographs identifying the individuals who had forcibly stopped and taken pictures of staff.
“Regrettably no positive action has been taken by the Indian side so far,” he said.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry had summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh over what Islamabad calls the harassment of diplomats and families of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
At the same time, the Indian media reported that New Delhi had also urged the authorities in Pakistan to make sure that its high commission in Islamabad was allowed to perform routine jobs in an atmosphere free of harassment and intimidation.
But Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman rejected the reports and said he was not aware of any incident of creating problems for Indian diplomats.
“The escalating tension between India and Pakistan may lead to diplomatic deadlock, which could be perilous for strategic stability in the region,” Zafar Jaspal, professor at the School of Politics and International Relations at Quaid-e-Azam University, told Arab News.
“Calling back the ambassador for discussion shows this is a new low in diplomatic tensions between both states,” Qamar Cheema, a political analyst and educationist, told Arab News.
“Political leadership will have to come forward to diffuse the tension, otherwise diplomatic staff may not be able to have any breakthrough,” Cheema said.
“Our high commissioner in New Delhi has been asked to come to Islamabad for consultations,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Faisal said on Thursday.
“This deliberate bullying is not confined to a single isolated event and continues unabated despite repeated official protests lodged with the Indian High Commission here, and also with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs at the highest level,” the spokesman said.
Aziz Ahmed Khan, Pakistan’s former high commissioner to New Delhi, told Arab News: “It shows the seriousness of the issue; under the Vienna Convention, it is the responsibility of the host country to provide security to diplomatic staff and their families.”
“Pakistan has been complaining about the harassment issue, but when it didn’t get a positive response from New Delhi, Islamabad called its high commissioner to get more details and consult on security issues for diplomatic staff,” Aziz said.
In a news briefing, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters that Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi also shared with the Indian External Affairs Ministry photographs identifying the individuals who had forcibly stopped and taken pictures of staff.
“Regrettably no positive action has been taken by the Indian side so far,” he said.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry had summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh over what Islamabad calls the harassment of diplomats and families of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
At the same time, the Indian media reported that New Delhi had also urged the authorities in Pakistan to make sure that its high commission in Islamabad was allowed to perform routine jobs in an atmosphere free of harassment and intimidation.
But Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman rejected the reports and said he was not aware of any incident of creating problems for Indian diplomats.
“The escalating tension between India and Pakistan may lead to diplomatic deadlock, which could be perilous for strategic stability in the region,” Zafar Jaspal, professor at the School of Politics and International Relations at Quaid-e-Azam University, told Arab News.
“Calling back the ambassador for discussion shows this is a new low in diplomatic tensions between both states,” Qamar Cheema, a political analyst and educationist, told Arab News.
“Political leadership will have to come forward to diffuse the tension, otherwise diplomatic staff may not be able to have any breakthrough,” Cheema said.
