Pakistan calls back Indian envoy after alleged harassment incidents
Pakistan recalled its High Commissioner to India, Sohail Mahmood, to discuss the increased incidents of alleged intimidation. Foreign Office spokesman Dr. Mohammad Faisal claimed that this step was necessitated after India failed to take notice of and address these purported harassment incidents. Recently, both India and Pakistan have accused each other of ill-treating diplomats and their respective families. Here's more about it.
What are Pakistan's allegations?
Pakistan claimed that one of its diplomats was harassed after his vehicle was stopped in Delhi's Chanakyapuri. The Deputy High Commissioner's children were also reportedly harassed while they were going to school. On March 11, Pakistan issued a demarche to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and Indian External Affairs ministry listing these incidents. It threatened to pull out its 500 odd diplomats from Delhi.
How did India respond to these allegations?
After complaints poured in, India last week assured that it will make "efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for diplomats to work in." Officials also reminded Islamabad that last year Indian diplomats faced such harassment in Pakistan, like forcible stopping of vehicles, raiding of diplomats' residential complex, etc. However, they contended that Indian envoys dealt with it "quietly and with persistent diplomacy."
