Diplomats harassment

Evidence handed over to India: FO

By Mariana Baabar

Ag agencies

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday said that the evidence pertaining to harassment to the Pakistani diplomats even to their families and small children had been handed over to India.

FO also said that now it was US and Afghanistan turn to do more in term of actions against the terrorists and their sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.

FO said that Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, Sohail Mahmood leaves for New Delhi on Thursday, well in time to host Pakistan’s 70th National Day, which has always been very well attended yearly event. Sohail Mehmood was in Islamabad, after he was recalled for “consultations” last week after several cases of harassment against senior Pakistani diplomats and their families took place in the Indian capital. Islamabad had raised the violation of the Vienna Convention “that provides security to serving diplomats to be able to conduct their duties in host nations.” While New Delhi appeared unperturbed at this ‘recall’, Pakistan at the time had stated, “The High Commissioner will not return to India anytime soon,” after India took note and addressed the continuing harassment of its diplomats and families. The announcement was made by the Foreign Office spokesman Thursday, during the weekly media conference, when he said, “Our High Commissioner was in Pakistan for consultations for some days. He also called on the prime minister. His presence here was useful and many important issues in addition to the harassment of officials in New Delhi were discussed. He is returning to India today”. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had also raised several incidents when Indian diplomats too were harassed in Islamabad.

However, the spokesman said that Pakistan is a responsible member of the international community and makes all possible efforts to ensure safety and security of the diplomats stationed in Islamabad.

“We don’t want to enter into a number game of Notes Verbale, with India, regardless of the fact that the numbers on our side are much more. New Delhi has not shared any evidence with us about their complaints. On the other hand, Pakistan is seriously concerned over the treatment being meted out to the diplomats, officials and families, including small children, at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi. We have lodged strong protests with the Indian government over these unfortunate incidents of harassment and intimidation, evidence of which is widely available on social media. We have also stressed that the safety and security of the diplomats, officials and their families is the sole responsibility of the government of India, under the Vienna Convention”.

Reportedly, Indian army chief said that ceasefire violations along the LoC will cease on India’s terms. He further said that Pakistani forces have been feeling the "pain" of Indian army's offensive along the border. How do you respond to his statement?

To a query the spokesman said that the Indian army chief’s recent statements were “regrettable” as he chose to politicise the sensitive issue of lives lost at the LoC.

“We have consistently emphasised that Indian ceasefire violations at the LoC and the WB are a threat to regional peace and tranquility and can lead to a strategic miscalculation”, spokesman said pointing to unprecedented Indian escalation since 2017 which is a continuing trend and has already resulted in the deaths of 20 innocent civilians and injuries to 85 others in 2018 to date (more than 690 CFVs in 2018 to date).

“India has deliberately escalated tensions at the LoC and the Working Boundary in order to try to divert the attention of the international community from the grave situation in the Indian-Held Jammu and Kashmir, where the Indian occupation forces have unleashed a reign of terror committing brutalities against the innocent and defenseless people,” the spokesman added.

The spokesman was literally bombarded with questions over the recent ‘private’ visit of the prime minister, where an unplanned meeting took place with US Vice President Mike Pence, at a time when Pakistan expressed its satisfaction that US is taking actions against the terrorists hiding inside Afghanistan including Fazlullah.

Pakistan says that the objective of these continuing (Pak-US) conversations is to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues and to find common ground on all issues.

Putting the record straight, the spokesman clarified, “Pakistan’s Defence Adviser, posted in the Pakistan Embassy, accompanied the prime minister. It was the second interaction between the prime minister and US vice president since unveiling of the US policy on Afghanistan and South Asia in August 2017”.

He also pointed out that the prime minister had met the US vice president. Congressman Ted Yoho, Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific; accompanied by Subcommittee’s Democrat Ranking Member Congressman Brad Sherman called on the prime minister and discussed matters related to Pakistan-US bilateral relations and regional developments.

“The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on bilateral relations, the regional situation and Afghanistan and is part of the regular interactions between the two countries. These conversations are important to build trust and cooperation and to strengthen bilateral relations”, he added.

On the “do more” mantra from Washington, the spokesman reminded that Pakistan has been consistently reminding its US interlocutors about series of successful military operations undertaken by the armed forces of Pakistan in the border areas with Afghanistan.

“These operation are based on intelligence. Pakistan’s unflinching resolve to fight this menace till its logical conclusion is recognised, as it is in Pakistan’s interest as much as that of the others. It is a matter of satisfaction that US is taking actions against the terrorists hiding inside Afghanistan including Fazlullah, who have committed acts of terrorism across Pakistan. More needs to be done. On our part, Pakistan will continue to support efforts for bringing peace in Afghanistan”, he added.

The spokesman said the government was pleased that the US for a change was addressing the issues of sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, while the Afghan government and the Resolute Support Mission need to “do more” within Afghanistan to eliminate all safe havens and terrorist sanctuaries.

As for US allegations against sanctuaries inside Pakistan, the spokesman said that Pakistan has cleared the entire border region and there is no organised presence of terrorists within our territory.

“Nevertheless, considering the porous nature of the border and the presence of over 2 million Afghan refugees, Pakistan has continued Intelligence Based Operations to deal with the remnants. At the same time, Pakistan has continuously highlighted its concerns over the presence of TTP sanctuaries inside Afghanistan”, he said.