By Aminul Islam Mirja
NEW DELHI, June 1, 2020 (BSS) – Diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan are likely to grow further strain over espionage charge brought against two officials of Pakistan high commission in New Delhi on Sunday.
“Two officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were apprehended today (Sunday) by Indian law enforcement authorities for indulging in espionage activities,” Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Sunday evening.
It said that the Indian government has declared both these officials “persona non grata” for “indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission”.
Later, the external affairs ministry issued a demarche to Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires with strong protest with regard to the activities of these officials against India’s national security.
The Pakistan’s Charge d’Affairs was asked to ensure that no member of its diplomatic mission should indulge in activities inimical to India or behave in a manner incompatible with their diplomatic status.
Later, the Pakistan foreign ministry issued a statement condemning India government’s decision to declare the two officials persona non grata and claimed the Indian action was accompanied by a “negative pre-planned and orchestrated media campaign”.
Pakistan foreign ministry said that the officials were detained by Indian authorities on “false and unsubstantiated charges” and released on the intervention of the high commission.
Rejecting the “allegation”, it said the Indian action was a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the norms of diplomatic conduct “especially in an already vitiated atmosphere”.
The statement said the incident “as an attempt to divert attention from internal and external issues within India and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir”.
“The Indian action is clearly aimed at shrinking diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission,” the statement said.
It urged the international community to take notice of what it claimed the Indian design and play its role for ensuring peace and security in South Asia.
Besides, media reports quoting Delhi Police said the two officials of the Pakistani mission were detained at Bikanervala Chowk in Karol Bagh at 10.45 am on Sunday while allegedly trying to obtain classified materials on the Indian security establishment.
The duo — Abid Hussain Abid, 42, an assistant in the Pakistani mission and Mohammad Tahir Khan, 44, a clerk — had been under surveillance for the past few months, the Hindustan Times
said quoting the official sources.