Pakistani diplomats, families harassed in India

ISLAMABAD: Staff at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has complained of being harassed in their host country, diplomatic sources told the Geo News.

The diplomats also complained of their families being harassed. According to sources, a car carrying unaccompanied underage children of a diplomat was made to stop on a busy main road in the Indian capital Tuesday; the children were harassed by unknown individuals for over an hour. The diplomat’s daughter, according to sources, is still traumatised by the ordeal. In another incident, the vehicle of another senior counselor was forcefully stopped by an unknown individual who then disembarked and took pictures of the counselor. Tuesday’s incidents are not the first, rather, a continuing trend that started last week Wednesday when a senior diplomat’s vehicle was stopped and damaged. The following day the deputy high commissioner’s vehicle was chased by unknown individuals in a car and on a motorcycle, who dragged the driver out of the car and hurled abuses at him. In another incident Thursday, the Pakistan High Commissioner was chased and his car was damaged by unknown individuals. The very next day, the high commissioner raised the issue with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and met with the MEA joint secretary in connection with the incidents.

Following the meeting, instead of incidents being stopped, two counselors of the Pakistani mission were harassed in a similar manner. Pakistan High Commission again raised the issue with the MEA. After the latest incidents, the Pakistani High Commission has once again taken up the matter with the Indian government.

Tensions between the two countries flared up after India accused Pakistan of involvement in attacks on its military posts in a bordering town — an accusation Pakistan strongly denies.