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Pakistan calls back envoy in India to discuss harassment incidents

By Web Desk
March 15, 2018

ISLAMABAD: The federal government called back its envoy in India for a meeting aimed at discussing the harassment faced by Pakistani diplomats.

The Foreign Office stated on Thursday that it has directed Pakistani high commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood to return to Islamabad for a consultation over the recent incidents of harassment of diplomats.

In his weekly briefing, FO spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said that India has failed to take adequate steps to ensure the safety of Pakistani diplomats and their families in India, despite complaints and protests lodged with the Indian deputy high commissioner and India’s External Affairs Ministry.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Pakistani officials and their families were facing "intense harassment, intimidation and outright violence from the Indian state agencies".

It further stated that at least three of Pakistani diplomats have been harassed and intimidated in the recent past, where a senior diplomat and Pakistani deputy high commissioner were stopped and their vehicles intercepted.

"This deliberate bullying is not confined to a single isolated event, but continues unabated in a series of incidents, especially targeting the children of our officers and staff," said the FO in its statement, listing a series of incidents.