NEW DELHI, March 30 (TNS): India and Pakistan have agreed to resolve through talks all issues regarding treatment of their diplomats stationed in the other country, Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said here on Friday.
“India and Pakistan have mutually agreed to resolve matters related to the treatment of diplomats and diplomatic premises, in line with the 1992 “Code of Conduct for the treatment of diplomatic/consular personnel in India and Pakistan,” an MEA press release read.
Pakistan Foreign Office (FO), too, issued a similar statement. FO spokesperson Mohammad Faisal made a brief statement saying the matter will be addressed under the Code, which provides for “smooth and unhindered functioning” of the diplomatic and consular officials of the two countries.
Pakistan has previously claimed that there had been as many as 26 instances of harassment and intimidation of its diplomats since March 7, following which Islamabad called back its high commissioner Sohail Mahmood for discussions on the issue. He returned to New Delhi on March 22.
Countering these allegations, New Delhi said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was facing “tremendous harassment”. On several occassions, Indian diplomats had to deal with unauthorised entry into their premises and also random interception of their cars. India’s residential complex in Islamabad was raided by Pakistani agencies who disconnected power and water supply.
Press Release
