Pakistani High Commissioner Sohail Mehmood is returning to New Delhi on Thursday night, a week after he was recalled by the government after alleging harassment of some diplomats by Indian agency sleuths.
“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,” Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammed Faisal told media in Islamabad at a weekly briefing. The spokesman said 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,” he said.
On similar charges by India of harassment of its diplomats and notes verbale sent to Islamabad in this regard, the spokesman said “We don’t want to enter into a numbers game of notes verbale, with India, regardless of the fact that the numbers on our side are much more. India has not shared any evidence with us about their complaints,” he claimed.
However he assured to make all possible efforts to ensure the safety and security of the diplomats stationed in Islamabad.
Reacting to the statement by Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh that if need be the Indian army can cross the border to protect India’s territorial integrity the spokesman said such irresponsible and belligerent statements reflect the jingoistic mindset prevailing in India which can further exacerbate the already vitiated environment. “Pakistan refrains from such aggressive statements but our armed forces are fully capable of giving a befitting response in case of any misadventure,” he said.
The spokesman also criticised the Indian Army Chief statement that Pakistani forces have been feeling the pain of Indian Army's offensive along the border. “It is regrettable that Indian Army chief has chosen to politicize this sensitive issue, which is directly affecting the lives of innocent civilians. We have consistently emphasized 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. Unprecedented Indian escalation since 2017 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 ceasefire violations in 2018 to date)” he added.
