Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad complain of harassment by Pakistani agencies

However hard the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tries to create an eyewash by window dressing Pakistan’s intentions over remoulding relationships between India and Pakistan, be it by creating a facade over the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor, or by hogging limelight for the release of Hamid Nehal Ansari, Pakistan cannot restrain itself from projecting its acrimonious shenanigans.

According to reports, Indian consular officials in Pakistan have once again claimed harassment by Pakistani agencies.

Officials of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan have reported that they are being harassed deliberately as their internet connections are being blocked, gas connections are not being issued and even electricity supply is being cut off. Many diplomats have also alleged that guests visiting them are being harassed too.

The officials had reported in November that even several essential Indian websites, including websites for application and issue of Indian visa, are not opening in the Indian HC.

Earlier this year, there were also reports of Indian officials being stalked and their children being harassed on their way to schools.

Earlier in this month, it was also reported that an intruder tried to barge inside the house of a diplomat in Islamabad.

The Ministry of External Affairs has reportedly taken up the matter with their Pakistani counterpart. India has shown strong resentment and is considering this to be a breach of the Vienna Convention and the 1961 bilateral code of conduct, which both the countries had mutually agreed to follow, earlier this year.

Earlier in the year, there were reports of Indian officials being followed in vehicles and their families including children being harassed on the way to their schools.

In November, New Delhi had lodged a strong protest with the Government of Pakistan over harassment of Consular officials of the High Commission of India in Islamabad and denial of access to Sikh shrines to meet Indian Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan.

Compelled by their secessionist tendencies, Pakistan had in the past too, snubbed Indian diplomats by restricting them from meeting Sikh pilgrims.

From ringing the doorbell in the middle of the night and running away, obscene phone calls, cutting off the power supply and water supply, car chases, to aggressive confrontations and intimidation of children, Indian diplomats in Pakistan are at the continuous receiving end of severe hostility and sustaining constant threat.

OpIndia Staff: Staff reporter at OpIndia