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
