ISLAMABAD: In yet another provocation, India on Tuesday sought 50 percent reduction in the strength of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on the pretext of their alleged involvement in acts of "espionage" and "dealings with terrorist organisations", saying it would also reduce the staff reciprocally in Islamabad within a week.
However, Pakistan categorically rejected and strongly condemned the baseless allegations made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs as a pretext to seek 50 percent reduction in the staff strength of the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi.
Responding to the allegations, and summoning of Pakistan's chargé d'affaires in New Delhi, Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said that Pakistan completely dismissed 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".
"Pakistan also rejects the insinuations of intimidation of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad. The Indian government's smear campaign against Pakistan cannot obfuscate the illegal activities in which the Indian High Commission officials were found involved in," she said.
She said that the Indian MEA's statement was another effort to distort facts and deny the culpability of these Indian High Commission officials in criminal offences.
"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)," she said.
She 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 government are increasingly imperiling regional peace and stability," the spokesperson said.
She said that the Indian chargé d'affaires in Islamabad was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey Pakistan's rejection and condemnation of the baseless Indian allegations.
"The Indian chargé d'affaires was also informed of Pakistan's decision to reduce the Indian High Commission's staff strength by 50 percent as a reciprocal measure."
She said that the Indian chargé d'affaires was asked to implement the decision conveyed to him within seven days.
Earlier in the day, the Indian MEA stated that Pakistan's chargé d'affaires was summoned in New Delhi, and the decision of reduction of 50 percent strength of the High Commission was conveyed.
"The charge d'affaires of Pakistan was summoned today (Tuesday) to the Ministry of External Affairs and informed that India had repeatedly expressed concern about the activities of officials of his High Commission," the Indian MEA said in a statement in New Delhi.
"They have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organizations. The activities of the two officials caught red-handed and expelled on 31 May 2020 was one example in that regard," it alleged.
"The behaviour of Pakistan and its officials is not in conformity with the Vienna Convention and bilateral agreements on the treatment of diplomatic and consular officials. On the contrary, it is an intrinsic element of a larger policy of supporting cross-border violence and terrorism. Therefore, the Government of India has taken the decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50 percent," it stated.
The Indian MEA further stated that it would reciprocally reduce its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion.
"This decision, which is to be implemented in seven days, was conveyed to the Pakistani charge d'affaires," it added.
"Pakistan has in parallel engaged in a sustained campaign to intimidate the officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad from carrying on their legitimate diplomatic functions," it further alleged.
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