ISLAMABAD: Foreign diplomat Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the Indian government was trying to divert the world's attention from the border dispute with China as diplomatic tensions between the two countries increased.
Jio spoke to Pakistan on Wednesday about India's move to tell Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi that their attendance had been reduced by 50% over allegations of violating the Foreign Minister's Vienna summit on Wednesday.
"India's mood is clear because it wants to focus on the border dispute with China," the foreign minister said.
Opposition parties in India are raising questions that their government cannot answer, criticizing the Modi government's response to the border dispute with China that killed 20 Indian soldiers.
India has made baseless allegations against Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi, Qureshi said that Pakistani employees in India have been harassed and their cars chased by the authorities.
He said Pakistan had denied the allegations and dismissed them. The Foreign Minister said he would summon Indian Charges d'Affaire in Islamabad and give Indian employees the same treatment.
FM Qureshi said, "Because of this arbitrary approach, we have told them [Indian charge d'affaires] that you are reducing your [diplomatic] attendance by 50%."
Asked about the recent Cabinet meeting, PM Imran said the ministers had up to six months to show up and the Foreign Minister refused to give any information.
Qureshi said it was not appropriate to discuss the Cabinet internally with the media. "Everything has its own platform. Party affairs will be discussed at the core committee and party meetings. Cabinet matters will be discussed at cabinet meetings. I'm sorry," he said.
Pakistan Embassy asks staff to halve
On Tuesday, India urged Pakistan to remove its embassy in New Delhi. Saying I will do the same in Islamabad.
"The conduct of Pakistan and its officials is not in compliance with the Vienna Convention and the bilateral agreements with the diplomatic and consular authorities," the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Therefore, the Government of India has decided to reduce the staff strength by 50% at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi."
Pakistani Embassy officials boycotted
Frustrated relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated after two New Delhi embassy officials were expelled for allegedly committing a gruesome act in late May.
Pakistan condemned the Indian government's decision to continue its anti-Pakistan campaign.
According to the Foreign Office statement, India's decision to announce the two high officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi is "a person who is not gray."
It said two Indian High Commission officials in New Delhi were "dismissed today (31st May 2020) on false and baseless allegations."
Islamabad police have arrested two Indian High Commission employees in the hit-and-run incident
After the incident, New Delhi alleged that two Indian diplomats were arrested in a hit-and-run incident in Islamabad.
The incident dates back to last week when Islamabad police arrested two Indian officials in an attempt to run over a man and seriously wounded him.
0 Comments