NEW DELHI – New Delhi has asked its diplomats, diplomatic staff and theirfamilies to not venture out of the Pakistan capital’s diplomatic enclaveunless there is a compelling reason, sources have told The Indian Express.
They have also asked them to use only vehicles with diplomaticnumber-plates and not to use their private vehicles.
India on Thursday asked Pakistan to ensure “safety and security” of Indiandiplomats and their families living in Islamabad. The two sides have beentrading charges of harassment and intimidation of diplomats.
Noting that Indian High commission in Islamabad is facing a “litany ofissues”, Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Raveesh Kumarsaid that “we have taken them up through established mechanism”.
“We want Pakistan to resolve the issues being faced by our staff and ensuretheir safety,” he said.
These comments came on a day Pakistan decided to call back its HighCommissioner in India Sohail Mahmood for consultations over “harassment” ofits diplomatic staff in New Delhi.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said, “Our HighCommissioner in New Delhi has been asked to come to Islamabad forconsultations.”
He alleged that this “deliberate continuing bullying” was not confined to asingle isolated event and “continues unabated despite repeated officialprotests lodged with the Indian High Commission here, and also with theIndian Ministry of External Affairs at the highest (level).”
“Pakistan will go to any limit to ensure safety of the staff of (its) highcommission in India,” he said.