Pakistan’s envoy to India said on Friday he wants to sort out the matter of alleged harassment of diplomats “as soon as possible”, PTI reported. High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood returned to New Delhi on Thursday night, a week after he was summoned to his country as India and Pakistan traded allegations that their diplomatic staff were being harassed.
“I discussed this issue with our government,” Mahmood said. “We want to sort out this issue as soon as possible because it affects the relations between the countries.” Mahmood hosted the 70th Pakistan National Day celebrations at the Pakistani mission in New Delhi on Friday.
Over the past two weeks, India and Pakistan have traded allegations of harassment of their diplomatic staff at their respective High Commissions in Islamabad and New Delhi. Pakistan had summoned Mahmood on March 15 to “consult” him on the reports.
On March 13, the Pakistan High Commission had circulated a video that purportedly showed a slow-moving car blocking one of its diplomats’ vehicles in New Delhi. The High Commission claimed that Indian security services were behind the incident.
Indian authorities claimed that High Commissioner JP Singh’s doorbell was rung at 3 am in Islamabad. A few days later, the doorbell of Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in Delhi was also allegedly rung at 3 am.
Indian officials have claimed that the hostilities began after the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence raided a residential complex being built for Indian diplomats in Islamabad on February 16.
On Thursday, India sent an unsigned diplomatic correspondence to Islamabad, seeking an investigation into the matter, IANS reported.
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!