ISLAMABAD: As both Pakistan and India had decided to cut the strength of diplomatic staff by 50 percent, 143 members of Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi, including their family members came back on Tuesday, while 38 staff members of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, including six diplomats and their family members, also returned back to India. Diplomatic sources said that the members of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and their family members arrived in the country via Wagah border and the diplomatic staff and officials of the Indian High Commission and their family members also returned back to India through the same route. On June 23, 2020, India asked Pakistan to reduce the strength of its High Commission in New Delhi by 50 percent within seven days, accusing the officials of the High Commission to have been involved in the espionage activities.

It was followed by the government of Pakistan's decision, asking India to cut the strength of its High Commission in Islamabad by 50 percent within a week and also categorically rejected the Indian allegations.

Besides, Islamabad also termed the New Delhi's tactics of harassing Pakistani diplomats and staff members of the High Commission as a violation of the Geneva Convention.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020