Diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan were downscaled by 50 per cent, following inhuman treatment meted out to Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad. The decision to cut down the strength of Pakistani officials at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi is significant, and comes at a time when bilateral relations between the two countries are close to non-existent.
While summoning Pakistan’s Charge d’ Affaires Syed Haidar Shah yesterday, India’s MEA asked him to reduce staff at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, as India was concerned over their conduct. It was conveyed to Shah in no uncertain terms that the reduction of Pakistani staff by 50 per cent must be carried out in seven days, and that India too would be calling back half of its officials from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, as they were not safe in the maniacal country.
“The behaviour of Pakistan and its officials is not in conformity 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 of supporting cross-border violence and terrorism,” the MEA statement stated.
“Therefore, the Government of India has taken the decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 per cent. It would reciprocally reduce its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion. This decision, which is to be implemented in seven days, was conveyed to the Pakistani Charge d’Affaires,” the MEA further added.
Breaking:India to reduce strength of Pakistan high commission by 50% says MEA; Decision has to be implemented in 7 days pic.twitter.com/snw9AMELaz
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 23, 2020
The big move by the Indian government comes after a slew of events which has further soured the already minimalistic diplomatic relations between the two countries. Earlier, India had expelled two Pakistan High Commission officials after they were caught red handed spying and indulging in espionage. Abid Hussain and Muhammad Tahir were declared as ‘persona non grata’ after they were found obtaining sensitive documents relating to the movement of Indian Army troops.
This was followed by Pakistan harassing and intimidating Indian officials in Islamabad, and even tailing the Indian Charge d’affaires, Gaurav Ahluwalia. Subsequently, Pakistan arrested two Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad on fake and fabricated charges of a hit-and-run case. After a stern warning by India, the duo was released. After their arrival in India on June 22, they narrated how they were treated in an inhuman manner by Pakistan’s agencies. It is this narration which is believed to have led to the downscaling of the remainder of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The current strength of the Pakistan High Commission in India is said to be 110, which will now in a week’s time, be reduced to about 55. Historically, Pakistan has used its High Commissions not just in India, but across the world, for espionage activities at the behest of the ISI. With the reduction in staff, such motives of the terror nation are bound to take a hit in India.
