India lodges another protest after diplomats harassed in Pakistan

Protesting continues “intimidation and harassment” of its diplomates, India lodged another compalint after officials of Indian Mission in Pakistan were aggressively follwed by unidentified men in Islamabad on Sunday.

"Second Secretary at the Indian High Commission in Pakistan was aggressively followed by unidentified people in a car in close proximity in an intimidating manner while he was going to Chhaye Khana restaurant," according to ANI.

In another incident, four officials of High Commission of India in Pakistan travelling in an official vehicle were aggressively followed while going to Aabpara market by two unknown persons on motorbikes in an intimidating manner.

"Website of Indian HC continues to be intermittently blocked causing inconvenience & affecting the normal functioning of the Mission. We've asked Pakistan govt to investigate these incidents and ensure such incidents don't recur, ANI quoted sources as saying.

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Earlier on Saturday, India had given its 12th Note Verbale to Pakistan foreign ministry and mentioned two incidents of harassment - one on Saturday and the other on March 15.

Some officials of the Indian mission, who had gone for shopping to the Blue Area in Islamabad on Saturday, were harassed with two persons aggressively following them and hurling abuses.

On the March 15, an official of the Indian mission and his family was aggressively followed by two men on motorbike while he was going to a restaurant.

“Another Note Verbale was sent today by our High Commission in Islamabad to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan protesting against the intimidation and harassment of Indian High Commission officials,” a source said.

 “We have asked the Pakistan Government to investigate these incidents,” the source said.

The Note Verbale to Pakistan foreign ministry comes days after Islamabad recalled its envoy to India Sohail Mahmood for consultations, which was termed by India as "routine" and "normal".

Pakistan had said it called home its envoy for consultations after repeated incidents of "harassment" of its diplomatic staff in New Delhi.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said that the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was also facing a "litany of issues" which have not been resolved for several months by that country.