Pakistan has rejected the nomination of an Indian diplomat for the post ofits Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad, terming him too senior for the office.
Foreign service officer Jayant Khobragade was nominated in June to replacethe incumbent, Gaurav Ahluwalia, in Islamabad, following Pakistan’sdowngrading of diplomatic ties with India.
“Pakistan believes that by proposing a senior diplomat, who has alreadyserved as Ambassador in another post, India is trying to circumvent theeffect of downgrading of diplomatic relations, which is obviously not inline with Pakistan’s decision,” the country’s Foreign Ministry said in astatement on Sunday.
Islamabad, it said, has advised India to nominate an officer with seniority”commensurate with Pakistan’s decision of downgrading the diplomaticrelations.”
“It may be recalled that following India’s illegal and unilateral actionsof August 5, 2019 in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),Pakistan took a number of steps, including the downgrading of diplomaticrelations with India. The purpose of downgrading the relations was toregister Pakistan’s strong protest and condemnation of India’s illegal,inhuman and unacceptable actions in IIOJK,” read the statement.
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“It must be clear that the relations between India and Pakistan areinextricably linked to the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute inaccordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the pressrelease said.
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistanin parts but claimed by both in full. A small sliver of the region is alsocontrolled by China.
