PAKISTAN CALLS INDIA ENVOY TO HOLD TALKS ON ‘ILLTREATMENT’

NEW DELHI: Islamabad on Thursday called to Pakistan its high commissioner to India to discuss the alleged ill-treatment of diplomats and their families in New Delhi over the past few days.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar termed Pakistan calling back the envoy for discussion as nothing out of the ordinary and said New Delhi wanted Islamabad to resolve the issues being faced by Indian staff and ensure their safety.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal said India failed to take notice of the increasing incidents of intimidation. “Our high commissioner in New Delhi has been asked to come to Islamabad for consultations,” he said.

In New Delhi, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told the media, “The Pakistan high commissioner has been called for consultations; it is normal and routine. It is not a recall.”

Kumar further added: “We want Pakistan to resolve the issues being faced by our staff and ensure their safety...we are looking into issues raised by the Pakistan high commission here.”

Faisal claimed that the Indian government had not taken measures to safeguard Pakistani diplomats and their families in India, adding that the Pakistani government lodged protests over the matter with the Indian deputy high commissioner as well as India’s external affairs ministry.

India and Pakistan have in recent days accused each other of ill-treating diplomats and their families.