The diplomatic feud between India and Pakistan is not new. In the latest event, both countries ordered to cut each other’s diplomatic staff in half. The timing of Indian action to start this crisis comes amid heightened tensions on Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJK) and incoming August 05 – day when India abrogated Article 370 of its Constitution, unilaterally changing special status of the Kashmir valley.
Two officials of the Indian High Commission (IHC) in Islamabad, were over-speeding and crashed their car into a pedestrian on Jun 15, 2020. The IHC officials fled the scene and were apprehended later and during the course of investigation were found in possession of fake currency. After it was confirmed that the said officials were from the IHC, they were released. In the meantime, India expelled two Pakistani officials for “espionage”. According to the statement, issued by Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), “officials at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organizations in violation of international conventions on diplomatic relations.”Indian government blamed Pakistan for violation of Geneva Convention and asked Pakistan to reduce 50 per cent staff of its HC to India.
The Indian MEA after the incident insinuated Pakistani authorities for subjecting the Indian officials to interrogation and physical assault resulting in grievous injuries. The Indian MEA issued a negative statement, “attempt by Pakistan authorities to levy false accusations, concocted charges on officials of Indian HC is rejected in entirety”. Pakistan government in its strong rebuttal has rejected and strongly condemned the baseless allegations made by the Indian MEA as a pretext to seek 50 per cent reduction in the staff strength of the HC for Pak in New Delhi. Pakistan completely dismissed allegations of any violation of the “Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations” by the officials of the HC for Pakistan in New Delhi.
According to Foreign Office of Pakistan, “The latest Indian action is a part of India’s desperate attempts to divert attention from its state-terrorism and worst human rights violations in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir…the deputy chief of India’s diplomatic mission in Islamabad was summoned to the ministry to be informed of Pakistan’s decision to reduce the staff strength at the Indian High Commission by half as a reciprocal measure within a week”. So in response, Pakistan also demanded 50 per cent reduction of IHC in Islamabad.
“India would be better advised to focus on its internal and external issues rather than creating diversions at the cost of peace and stability in South Asia. Pakistan has been consistently sensitizing the world community that the irresponsible policies of the Bahartiya Janata Party (BJP) government are increasingly imperiling regional peace and stability”, further reiterated the Foreign Office.“Pakistan completely dismisses allegations of any violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by the officials of the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi and reiterates that they always function within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms”, the Foreign Office maintained.“The Indian government’s smear campaign against Pakistan cannot obfuscate the illegal activities in which the Indian High Commission officials were found involved. The MEA’s statement is another effort to distort facts and deny the culpability of these Indian High Commission officials in criminal offences”, it added. Last year, Pakistan debarred Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisariaon India’s “unilateral and illegal” revocation of Article 370 of its Constitution, changing revoke the special status of J&K.
The Indian MEA’s statement is a reprehensible attempt to distort facts and deny the culpability of these officials in criminal offences. The Indian Government’s smear campaign against Pakistan cannot conceal the illegal activities in which the Indian HC officials were found involved. The Indian MEA’s statement is an effort to distort facts and deny the culpability of Indian HC officials in criminal offences. The latest Indian action is considered to be part of India’s desperate attempts to divert attention from its Ladakh standoff, state-terrorism and worst Human Rights Violations (HRVs) in Indian IOJK. India rather focusing on its internal and external issues has been creating diversions at the cost of peace and stability in South Asia. India has conveyed to Pakistan government that it has no plans for resuming diplomatic engagement in foreseeable future. Indian has increasing proving itself a trouble maker in the region through its callous diplomatic behavior.
