Indian High Commission Officials Harassed in Pakistan, Again

Islamabad: The Indian High Commission in Pakistan again sent a note verbale to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) after its officials in Islamabad were harassed and intimidated for the second consecutive day here on Sunday.

In the 13th note verbale this year on the subject and the second one in as many days sent to MOFA, the Indian High Commission highlighted three incidents and asked the Pakistan government to investigate and ensure that such incidents do not recur, according to sources.

The incidents included the aggressive following and intimidation of Second Secretary at the High Commission by unidentified people in a car while going to Chhaye Khana restaurant here.

According to the High Commission, the followers also used mobile phones to make videos of the Second Secretary. The office also notified a similar incident of the following of four Indian High Commission officials while going to Aabpara market. The officials were on Sunday followed by two unknown persons on motorbikes in an intimidating manner.

The note also said the website of the High Commission continued to be intermittently blocked causing inconvenience and affecting the normal functioning of the Mission. The High Commission also requested the country's government to share the investigation result with them.

The Commission had on Saturday lodged a protest and sent a 12th diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan after some of its officials were harassed in Islamabad.

The Saturday's note also highlighted a similar incident on March 15, wherein an official of the commission and his family were followed by two men on a motorbike while going to a restaurant.

The incidents come as Pakistan called back its High Commission to India Sohail Mahmood for "consultation" over reports of harassment. For over a week, both India and Pakistan have been complaining about alleged harassment of their respective diplomats in the two countries.