Pak twists India mission advisory

OFFICIALS SAY DECISION TO PULL OUT INDIAN CHILDREN FROM SCHOOLS IN PAK WAS TAKEN IN JUNE LAST YR

NEW DELHI: Indian diplomats have pulled their children out of schools in Islamabad after New Delhi declared the high commission a “no school-going mission” in June last year, a move Pakistan raked up to draw attention to bilateral relations strained by the recent unrest in Kashmir.

The external affairs ministry confirmed a report on Monday in Lahore-based Daily Times about the high commission staff being asked to pull out their children from schools in Islamabad.

The decision was taken six months after Taliban gunmen stormed a military school in Peshawar in 2014, killing 132 students and nine staff members.

Although the decision was communicated to the mission last June, the staff waited a year for the academic session to end. As of June 2016, there are no children of Indian diplomatic staff studying in Pakistan.

“Pakistan has leaked the information now to show that India-Pakistan relations are in tatters, and that it has to do with the situation in Kashmir,” a government official said. “The decision is a year old and has no connection whatsoever to Burhan Wani or the current turmoil in Kashmir. The timing only smacks of an effort by Pakistan to internationalise the Kashmir issue.”

Relations between the two countries have worsened over the past few months, with violence in Kashmir over the killing of the 22-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander being the latest flashpoint. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made provocative statements over Kashmir, saying it “will one day become Pakistan”.

India asked Pakistan last week to ensure the safety of its officials and their families stationed in Islamabad in view of threats from marches and protests outside the high commission.

Around 50 children of Indian diplomatic staff studied in International School of Islamabad — also known as the American School — and another 10 in Roots International School. The Indian government allows children of its mission staff to study only in these two institutions.

“It is normal practice for all countries to review staffing and related policies for their diplomatic missions, including in view of prevailing circumstances at those stations,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.