By Muhammad Luqman
Pakistan has summoned its high commissioner in New Delhi, Sohail Mahmood, for consultation in the wake of harassment of diplomats at high commission by Indian agencies, says Foreign Office spokesman. ”Foreign office will hold consultations with the high commissioner over recent incidents of harassing of the embassy’s staff,” spokesman Dr. Muhammad Faisal said at weekly media briefing. Faisal said the Indian government has not taken measures to safeguard Pakistani diplomats and their families in India, adding that the Pakistani government lodged protests over the matter with the Indian deputy high commissioner as well as India’s External Affairs Ministry. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Tuesday, had said the staff and their families have been facing harassment, intimidation and “outright violence” from Indian state agencies in recent weeks. The incidents are part of a continuing trend that started last week on Wednesday when a senior diplomat’s vehicle was stopped and damaged. The following day the Pakistani deputy high commissioners’ vehicle was chased by unidentified individuals in a car and on a motorcycle, who dragged the driver out of the car and hurled abuses at him.
