'It's routine': India on Pakistan’s move to call back envoy over alleged harassment

The External Affairs Ministry on Thursday played down Pakistan's move to call back it’s envoy to India over the alleged harassment of diplomats.

“He has been called for consultation. This is pretty normal & routine. It is not a recall,” MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan “recalled” its High Commissioner to India, Sohail Mahmood for consultative meetings as both countries traded allegations of harassing diplomats.

Pakistan Foreign Office, alleging harassment had said, “The total apathy and failure of the Indian government to halt these despicable incidents, sparing not even young children, indicates both a lack of capacity to protect foreign diplomats posted in India or a more reprehensible, complicit unwillingness to do so.”

Also Read | Pakistan calls back High Commissioner from India over 'harassment incidents'

Meanwhile, India has also claimed "multiple acts of hooliganism” by Pakistan's ISI against its staff in Islamabad.

Around 7-8 ISI agents last month raided a residential complex under construction for Indian diplomats in Islamabad and disconnected the electricity and water supply to the property.

Not giving more details about the incident, Kumar said, “This is something which should be taken up through established diplomatic channels & not published in media. We expect them to look into & resolve those issues.”