Indian High Commission staff in Pakistan are being subjected to “intrusive surveillance” and “tailing” by intelligence personnel of that country and the matter has been taken up strongly with Islamabad, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in the lok Sabha on Wednesday during the question hour in the lok Sabha. In the Rajya Sabha too one of the Opposition members sought for “more clarity” on the Modi Government’s policy towards the neighbouring country.
“Members of the High Commission of India have been subjected to intrusive surveillance, including tailing by the intelligence and security personnel of the Pakistan Government,” the Minister said.
Replying to a question on “ill treatment of Indian diplomats”, she referred to several incidents in Pakistan and other countries in the past few years and said after the issues were raised with the respective Governments, such actions have not been repeated in these countries “except Pakistan”.
“The matter has been taken up strongly with the Government of Pakistan at various levels,” she told the members in the lower house.
Swaraj also said the Government was making all efforts to ensure that the United States drops all charges against IFS officer Devyani Khobragade, whose arrest in New York two years ago had led to a diplomatic standoff between the two nations.
“India and the US have initiated an official dialogue to comprehensively address all aspects related to the case against Khobragade and all issues arising from differing perspectives on diplomatic privileges and immunities.
“Our Government is making all attempts so that all charges leveled against her are dropped,” Swaraj said, adding that the US Government has expressed regret over the incident.
The Modi Government’s policy towards Pakistan was questioned in Rajya Sabha with a JD(U) member asking if dialogue will continue in the wake of Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit meeting Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani here on Monday.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, Pawan Varma, a former diplomat, said the dialogue with Pakistan was discontinued due to ceasefire violations in 2013 but the NDA government decided to resume it in August 2014 even as ceasefire violations continued.
He said the talks were suddenly revived and then also cancelled quickly as despite India’s objections Pakistan’s High Commissioner held consultations with Hurriyat leaders. “Now again under the garb of SAARC Yatra, talks have begun,” he said referring to the recent visit of Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar to Pakistan where he met his counterpart Aizaz Chaudhary.
“Now, again Pakistani envoy has met Geelani in his house. Will composite dialogue continue nowIJ What is the policy towards PakistanIJ Is it adhoc and impulsiveIJ...What is the strategic policy that the Government of India has followed towards Pakistan,” he asked. “We want more clarity on foreign issues,” he said holding that foreign policy must be embedded in strategic policy.