*ISLMABAD – Indian diplomats in Islamabad complained Sunday that Pakistansecurity officials had hassled guests invited to a Ramazan fast-breakingmeal at a top hotel, going so far as to confiscate mobile phones and removethe vehicles of those attending.*
“Guests faced unprecedented harassment and intimidation at the hands ofsecurity agencies,” the Indian High Commission said in a statement.
It said security officials had carried out a “concerted campaign” in thedays leading up to the event to try to dissuade invited guests fromattending an iftar, or fast-breaking meal, at the Serena hotel.
“Those guests who did reach the function venue, in some cases from placesas far as Lahore and Karachi, were intimidated and physically stopped fromattending,” the high commission said. “In some cases, cars used by inviteeswere lifted and removed using forklifts.”
The high commission said more than 300 guests were turned away, includingparliamentarians, diplomats, business people and members of the media.
“Some officials were jostled, pushed, abused and aggressively threatenedwith bodily harm. In some cases mobile phones belonging to officials weresnatched away,” it said. “We have requested the government of Pakistan tourgently investigate these ugly events and share the results of theexercise with the High Commission of India.”
The Pakistani foreign office did not immediately respond when contacted byAFP. Pakistan and India often accuse each other of harassing theirdiplomatic missions.
The arch-rivals barely escaped a war just months ago when they launchedcross-border air strikes at each other, but Pakistani Prime Minister ImranKhan and his Indian rival Narendra Modi exchanged warm messages afterModi’s hawkish party won a new term in May.
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Last month, Khan congratulated Modi on the win by the Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP), which has long taken a strong anti-Pakistan stance.
“Congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP andallies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperityin South Asia,” Khan tweeted.
“Thank you PM @ImranKhanPTI. I warmly express my gratitude for your goodwishes. I have always given primacy to peace and development in ourregion,” Modi responded, also on Twitter.
In February, India launched an airstrike inside Pakistan accusing itsneighbour of harbouring a group that staged a suicide bomb attack on Indiantroops in Kashmir.
Pakistan launched its own raid the next day amid fears of war, but tensionshave since eased.
Pakistan has restricted large swathes of airspace near its eastern borderwith India since the February clashes, effectively closing off majorinternational flight routes in and out of Islamabad and Lahore, while alsodisrupting Indian flights headed west. -APP/AFP
