A fresh round of war of words erupted between India and Pakistan on Sunday with both sides trading charges with regard to harassment of their diplomats in each other's country.
While listing out the various kinds of harassment and humiliation its diplomats and their families are going through in Islamabad, sources in Indian Government said there has been a continuous pattern in this regard.
Sources said there have been cases of unauthorised entries, intimidation, and forcible stoppage of Indian High Commission's vehicles in Islamabad. One recent case includes the fact that the membership of the Islamabad Club, which is open to all diplomats, is not being given to the Indian diplomats.
Besides there have been several other cases of harassment with regard to Indian contractors working in Pakistan on High Commission's projects. For instance, the Pakistani side has not issued visas to the Indian companies involved in the construction of the residential complex project in the Indian High Commission. Water and electricity supply have been disconnected and the main contractor was threatened not to resume the work. In fact, the contractor who maintains the Chancery was threatened and harassed by Pakistan government and ordered to evacuate the complex and not provide any services to the High Commission of India.
Sources added that the local security guards were also threatened by Pak agency officials and warned against allowing any locals to visit the Chancery severely hampering the normal functioning of the Consulate.
On 16 February, the High Commissioner of India met the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, to lodge a strong protest against multiple acts of hooliganism against Indian properties and personnel. India's residential complex in Islamabad was raided by Pakistan agencies who expelled all Pakistani service providers and later disconnected power and water supply. Despite the Foreign Secretary's assurance, the power supply was not restored for over two weeks. The Pakistan High Commission faces no such disruptions, sources said.
More troublingly, over the last few months, several High Commission staff have been severely harassed and intimidated. In one case an official's home was broken into, laptop stolen. "Harassment is the new normal for Indian High Commission personnel in Islamabad," sources said. The High Commissioner's car was recently stopped by Pak agencies in the middle of a busy road to prevent him from attending an event.
They alleged that aggressive surveillance, violation of physical space and tailing of officers in close and dangerous proximity is a perennial issue in Pakistan. Agency personnel keep shooting videos of the officers thrusting phones on their faces. Obscene phone calls and messages are constantly received on phones.
In view of such an atmosphere of intimidation, most families have returned to India and children have been withdrawn from schools. In contrast to all this, sources said, Pakistani High Commission officials in New Delhi have been allowed to operate in a safe environment so that they can discharge their duties effectively. Sources added that India has issued a demarche to the Pakistani side several times but things have not changed on ground.
There have been oft erupting incidents from time to time including abduction and physical torture of Indian officials posted in Islamabad. In 1999 Rajesh Mittal was abducted and brutally tortured while in 2002 another person AK Khanna, assistant in the High Commission was abducted.
Interestingly, the Pakistan High Commission too has similar complaints with regard to the harassment of their diplomats posted in New Delhi. Pakistan Foreign Office claimed that six incidents of harassment were reported in a span of last three days in New Delhi. The Pak High Commission on Fridayhas sent a note verbale to Ministry of External Affairs with regard to the harassments. It claimed MEA has assured to take up the matter with concerned agencies.
Pak has claimed that a senior official's car was stopped and scratched on Wednesday by unknown men in Chaynakapuri area. On Thursday, Pak claimed, the car of Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner was chased upon by a motorcycle and another vehicle, the men took the driver off and hurled abuses. The DHC's car had his children who were heading to their school. On Thursday, in another incident, minister political of Pakistani High Commission was chased and his car was scratched. Interestingly, Pak claimed, on Friday, after the meeting with MEA, two counsellors of the Pakistani High Commission were harassed in the same manner as before.
Pakistan has a total of 104 diplomats and staff who work at its High Commission in Delhi. Sources in the Indian Government said the issues raised by Pakistan High Commission will no doubt be investigated and that India makes all efforts to provide a safe, secure and hospitable environment for diplomats to work in.
"Unfortunately, this cannot be said of Islamabad. The Indian High Commission in Pakistan has been facing tremendous harassment for long, particularly in the last year. However, Indian diplomats chose to tackle this matter with quiet and persistent diplomacy rather than by airing issues in the media," sources said.
"India has repeatedly requested Pakistan to mutually ensure that High Commissions are allowed to do their job in an atmosphere free of harassment and intimidation, that staff be allowed to work, that construction projects get completed on time. We would like to continue the fine tradition of allowing diplomats to do their jobs," sources added.