Harassment of diplomats, their families: Pakistan recalls HC from India

Pakistan has recalled its high commissioner from India for consultations amid constant incidents of harassment of its diplomats and their family members by Indian state agencies in New Delhi. "We have called our high commissioner [in Indian] to Pakistan for consultations," Spokesperson Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal told his weekly media briefing on Thursday, saying, "We will take all possible steps for the safety and security of our people in India, which is paramount to us."
He said that Pakistan has raised the issue of constant incidents of harassment of its diplomats, their families as well as school-going children at the highest level with the Indian side. He said that Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office and a strong protest was lodged at the maltreatment being meted out to the officials and families of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
"This deliberate bullying is not confined to a single isolated event and continues unabated despite repeated official protests lodged with the Indian high commission here, and also with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs at the highest level," he said. He said that Pakistan's High Commission also shared photographs, identifying the individuals who forcibly halted and took pictures of the officers, with the Indian External Affairs Ministry.
"Regrettably no positive action has been taken by the Indian side so far. The total apathy and failure of the Indian government to put a halt to these despicable incidents, sparing not even young children, indicates both a lack of capacity to protect foreign diplomats posted in India or a more reprehensible and complicit unwillingness to do so," he said. Under the Vienna Convention, he added, the safety and the security of Pakistani diplomats and their families is the responsibility of the Indian government.
To a question whether Pakistan is considering to declare India a non-family station or will it seek arbitration of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) due to India's blatant violation of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular Relations of 1961, he said that foreign secretary is in constant touch with all stakeholders in this regard. "We will share any further updates in due course," he added.
On Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua's recent visit to the US on March 7-8, he said that Janjua met senior US officials including the US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan at the State Department and the Deputy National Security Advisor Dr Nadia Schadlow at the White House.
During her meetings, he stated that both sides agreed to strengthen their longstanding relationship. "She [Janjua] reaffirmed Pakistan's constructive approach to work together with the US for regional peace and stability," he said.
He said that the foreign secretary also expressed the hope that enhanced economic engagement and realizing the economic potential in the relationship can open new vistas of long-term cooperation, strengthening the existing bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
Asked if the foreign secretary's visit to the US will help find a common ground between the two countries, Dr Faisal said: "We are confident that both sides will find common ground." "This is why such visits are happening, and more will follow," he added.
Commenting on the US announcement of $5 million award for information leading to arrest of Afghanistan-based TTP leader Mullah Fazlullah and other terrorists, he welcomed the US administration's step, adding that "more needs to be done." "While our efforts to eliminate these savages are underway, we consider the US decision to announce head money on these terrorists a welcome step. More needs to be done," he said.
"We are all aware of the atrocities committed by these individuals. They have been involved in killing and maiming innocent children, women and men in Pakistan. No one in Pakistan can ever forget the atrocious attack on Army Public School, Peshawar, where children of this nation were brutally attacked," he added.
Commenting on US diplomat Alice Wells' remarks that Pakistan can play a key role in shaping Afghan Taliban's behaviour and has also asked Pakistan to take steps to thwart Taliban's 'Spring Offensive', the spokesperson said: "We do not have a lot of influence on Afghan Taliban."
On the US decision of appointing a former CIA chief as secretary of state, he said described the reshuffle in the US administration as purely an internal matter of the US, adding, "we look forward to working with the new Secretary of State, in actively seeking to find common ground between both sides."
To another question about Iranian offer to invest in Tehran's Chabahar Port during Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif's recent visit, he said that Iran's offer for investment in Chabahar Port is open to several countries including Pakistan.
"From our perspective, Chabahar and Gwadar as sister ports are complement to each other in promoting future trade, transit and connectivity," he stated. He said that Pakistan's minister of maritime affairs participated in the inauguration of a part of the Chabahar Port. "We will continue to work with Iran for deepening connectivity between the two ports," he added.
To another query, he said that the Iranian foreign minister also broached the idea of Iran's participation in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). "Yes, Iranian foreign minister broached this idea and it will be examined," he added.
To a question about Afghan peace talks, he said that lasting peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved through inclusive intra-Afghan peace dialogue. He said that Pakistan has always maintained that peace process be actively pursued to end conflict and sufferings of the Afghan people.
Dr Faisal also stated that Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukia Amano visited Pakistan to discuss cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
During his stay in Pakistan, he said that Director General Amano visited various civilian nuclear installations and facilities including the construction sites of K2 and K3 nuclear power plants. He said that the DG IAEA also held meetings with the chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and the chairman of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA).
"Discussions at these meetings focused on the importance of nuclear power as a clean source of energy as well as nuclear technology applications in areas such as agriculture, health, industry, water resource management, environment protection, and food safety," he said, adding that Director General Amano also inaugurated a food security lab at Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology in Faisalabad.
He said that Director General Amano appreciated the role played by Pakistan at the IAEA as well as Pakistan's contributions in the area of peaceful nuclear applications. "He [Amano] acknowledged the excellent and robust nuclear safety and security measures put in place by Pakistan," he added.
Asked to comment on a recent PILDAT report which stated that Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has played an active role in shaping Pakistan's foreign policy, by meeting various ambassadors in Islamabad and visiting important countries, the spokesperson said that he has not seen the relevant report. "To the best of my knowledge, Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains the core institution for the formulation and implementation of foreign policy," he added.