Pakistan violates Vienna Convention, India said today (File)
new Delhi:
The Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday that amid the ongoing diplomatic dispute between the two countries, India would reduce the workforce at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 per cent and call back the same officers of its commission in Islamabad.
The ministry said the shortfall is to be implemented within seven days.
The ministry said that D’Affair, in charge of Pakistan, was summoned this morning and said that India has repeatedly expressed concern about Pakistani authorities over “spying work” and maintaining “dealings with terrorist organizations” Had.
“Pakistan’s behavior is not in line with the Vienna Convention and bilateral agreements on the treatment of diplomatic and consular officials. On the contrary, it is an intrinsic element of a larger policy to support cross-border violence and terrorism,” the government said. .
“The kidnapping and serious ill behavior of two Indian officers at gunpoint underscores the extent to which Pakistan has moved,” he said.
The government said, “They are also engaged in espionage and dealing with terrorist organizations. The activities of the two officers were caught red-handed and expelled on May 31, 2020.”
Last week, two Indian High Commission staffers, reported missing from 8 am in Islamabad, were found late at night following a strong complaint from New Delhi.
Government sources said both the driver and the injured were in the custody of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). Pakistan said that they were involved in a road accident and police filed an FIR to withdraw their statement.
In reference to that incident, the government said today, “The authorities returning to India on June 22, 2020 have provided a graphic account of the barbaric behavior they experienced at the hands of Pakistani agencies.”
Earlier this month, the Foreign Ministry said that two officials of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi were caught for espionage activities.
Sources said the duo – identified as Abid Hussain and Tahir Khan – worked in the visa section and used fake identity cards. He was declared an individual non-village and ordered to leave India within 24 hours.
Relations between India and Pakistan have been severely strained over the years and have deteriorated recently with incidents of border firing and terrorist attacks in Kashmir.
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