Pakistan calls back envoy from New Delhi for consultation on harassment of diplomats

NDTV quoted Government sources as saying that there is "nothing unusual" in the act as  "Consultation is routine process between the embassy and the foreign office, it is nothing unusual."

However, Pakistan's Geo News quoted Foreign Office spokesperson  Mohammad Faisal saying at weekly briefing that there will be consultations with the high commissioner over recent incidents of harassing of the embassy’s staff.

Faisal said the Indian Government has not taken measures to safeguard Pakistani diplomats and their families in India, adding that the Pakistani government lodged protests over the matter with the Indian deputy high commissioner as well as India’s External Affairs Ministry.

On complaints from Islamabad, New Delhi had said last week that "India makes all efforts to provide a safe, secure and hospitable environment for diplomats to work in" but added that Indian officials had to face "tremendous harassment" in that country.

"Harassment is the new normal for Indian High Commission personnel in Islamabad," said the foreign ministry in a statement.

Pakistan has recently complained that there has been six cases of intimidation of its officials within three days in Delhi, while India has cited umpteen number of such cases, the latest being the Inter-Services Intelligence  raid on a residential complex under construction for Indian diplomats in Islamabad on February 16 where  the Pakistani agency reportedly disconnected power and water supply.

In a demarche to the Indian high commission in Islamabad and the external affairs ministry in Delhi, Pakistan has raised serious reservations and concerns over the safety and security of its staffers and their families in India, threatening to pull out the families if the alleged coercion did not stop.

Pakistan has  lodged four harassment charges, known as note verbale, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), alleging incidents of harassment and intimidation of its diplomats.

Highlighting one of the recent episodes, Pakistan High Commission said on March eight, two cars carrying Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner’s children to a school in New Delhi were followed and obstructed.  The driver was also, apparently, threatened later. A note verbale is unsigned and prepared in third person, therefore making it less formal in nature.

Pakistan's leading newspaper Dawn reported that  a number of other Pak diplomatic vehicles have also been stopped and searched.  The members of Pakistan’s diplomatic staff have allegedly been abused in public and a number of these vehicles have been involved in accidents.

Media reports quoted  sources as complaining that the Pakistan high commission staff has not received milk for the past 20 days. Also, diplomatic vehicles were allegedly being stopped on different pretexts and searched.

  While assuring action, Indian officials spoke out on the "tremendous hrassment" that Indian diplomats have been facing continuously in Islamabad, particularly in the last year. They said they have been pursuing the matter with Pak authorities with "quiet and persistent diplomacy."

According to media reports,   the hostility towards the Pakistan diplomats was triggered by an ISI raid on a residential complex under construction for Indian diplomats in Islamabad. During the raid, which took place last month, a group of 7-8 men disconnected the electricity and water supply to the property which is owned by India.