ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Indian Chargé d’ Affaires in Islamabad was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and informed of Pakistan’s decision to reduce the Indian High Commission’s staff strength by 50% as a reciprocal measure.
It was a reciprocal move by Pakistan after India hurled allegations against its High Commission in New Delhi, and asked for a 50% reduction in its staff.
The Indian Chargé d’ Affaires was asked to implement the decision conveyed to him within seven days.
The Indian Chargé d’ Affaires was also conveyed of Pakistan’s rejection and condemnation of the baseless Indian allegations made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs as a pretext to seek a 50% reduction in the staff strength of Pakistan’s High Commission.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan completely dismisses allegations of any violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by the officials of the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi and reiterates that they always function within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms.
The Foreign Office said that Pakistan also rejects the insinuations of intimidation of the Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad.
It said that the Indian government’s smear campaign against Pakistan cannot obfuscate the illegal activities in which the Indian High Commission officials were found involved in.
The MEA’s statement is another effort to distort facts and deny the culpability of these Indian High Commission officials in criminal offenses, it said.
The Foreign Office said that the latest Indian action is a part of India’s desperate attempts to divert attention from its state-terrorism and worst human rights violations in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).
It said that India would be better advised to focus on its internal and external issues, rather than creating diversions at the cost of peace and stability in South Asia.
“Pakistan has been consistently sensitizing the World Community that irresponsible policies of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government are increasingly imperiling regional peace and stability,” it said.
