ISLAMABAD – Amid fresh incidents of alleged harassment of Pakistanidiplomats in Delhi and Indian diplomats in Pakistan, Pakistan’s HighCommissioner Sohail Mahmood called for “sober reflection” and a carefulhandling of the situation.“This is a moment for sober reflection on the state of the bilateralrelationship.

It is too importantto be allowed to drift. There is a need to handle matters with wisdom andthoughtfulness,” Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood told The Hinduin response to a question about the latest incident in Delhi, which led tothe Pakistan Foreign Ministry issuing a demarche to Indian Deputy HighCommissioner J.P. Singh on Wednesday morning.

According to a message received here Wednesday, the protest came afterPakistan’s High Commission released a video taken by one of their embassyofficials that appeared to show their diplomatic car being tailed by men onmotorcycles while a car in front blocked their way.

The video shows men wearing helmets, riding the motorcycles very close tothe Embassy vehicle, and also intimidating other drivers on the road inSouth Delhi who objected.

According to Pakistani diplomats, the incident occurred on Tuesday and wasthe 23rd such incident in the past two weeks.

“While heavy surveillance of diplomats has always been a cause for concern,the scale, intensity and frequency of the harassment of embassy vehicles,personnel and families in the last few weeks is very worrying,” said adiplomatic source.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not respond to requestsfor a reaction to thelatest allegations by Pakistan. – APP