The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday it is investigating the alleged harassment of Pakistani diplomats stationed in New Delhi by Indian agencies.
“We have seen reports of issues raised by Pakistan,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters here on Thursday. “We do not wish to respond to these issues through the media but through established diplomatic channels. What I can say is that we are looking into these issues.”
The remarks came after Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced that it has asked Sohail Mahmood, its High Commissioner to India, to visit Islamabad for consultation on the matter.
“...Mahmood will be visiting Islamabad shortly for consultations on matters relating to Pakistan-India relations,” MOFA spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said in Islamabad.
Faisal charged the Indian government with not taking adequate steps to ensure the safety of its diplomatic staff.
Meanwhile, Indian High Commission staff posted in Islamabad also complained that they were being harassed by Pakistani intelligence officials.
“As you know, our High Commission is facing a litany of issues which have not been resolved for several months. We raise these issues in good faith through diplomatic channels and not through the media. We have asked for immediate resolution of these issues faced by our High Commission in Islamabad, so that the safety and security of our diplomatic mission and its diplomatic and consular officials are assured,” Kumar said.
He added that India wants its mission in Pakistan to function normally, in keeping with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961.