Pak calls back its India envoy for 'consultation'

Pakistan on Thursday called its envoy to India, Sohail Mahmood, to Islamabad for "consultation" as the spat between the two countries over harassment of their diplomats in each other's capitals escalated on Thursday.

New Delhi promised to look into Pakistan's allegation that its diplomats and their children were experiencing "intense harassment, intimidation and outright violence" in New Delhi.

India, however, stated that its high commission in Islamabad had been "facing tremendous harassment for long, particularly in the last year" and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan had not acted on the complaints lodged by New Delhi.

India conveyed to Pakistan that it would like its high commission in Islamabad "function normally, without any obstruction or harassment, in keeping with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961".

"We have seen reports of issues raised by Pakistan. We do not wish to respond to these issues through the media but through established diplomatic channels. What I can say is that we are looking into these issues," said Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.

His comment came a day after Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Pakistan government issued a press release in Islamabad alleging that its diplomats and their children were experiencing "intense harassment, intimidation and outright violence" from the "state agencies" of India.

Kumar declined to comment on Pakistan's move to call its high commissioner to India "for consultation".

He, however, noted that it was "pretty normal" and "routine" for ambassadors and high commissioners posted in overseas missions being called to the capitals "for consultations".

"As you know, our high commission is facing a litany of issues which have not been resolved (by Pakistan) for several months. We raise these issues in good faith through diplomatic channels and not through the media," said Kumar.

"We have asked for an immediate resolution of these issues faced by our high commission in Islamabad so that the safety and security of our diplomatic mission and its diplomatic and consular officials are assured," he added.

Sources in New Delhi said that the High Commissioner of India, Ajay Bisaria, had met the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Tehmina Janjua, to lodge a strong protest against multiple acts of hooliganism against properties and personnel of the Indian government in Islamabad.

India's residential complex in Islamabad was raided by Pakistan agencies' personnel, who expelled all service providers and later disconnected power and water supply.

Despite Janjua's assurance to Bisaria, the power supply was not restored for over two weeks.