Pakistan calls back High Commissioner from India over 'harassment incidents'

Pakistan has summoned its High Commissioner in India back home for a meeting to discuss recent matters to do with the alleged harassment of diplomats.

Islamabad has asked its envoy to India, Sohail Mahmood, to head back for an unspecified time. India and Pakistan are in the middle of a major diplomatic row with both nations accusing each other of harassing their diplomats.

While Pakistan some days ago issued a demarche to India saying it was becoming difficult for its diplomats to function in Delhi, sources here said the present round of hostility was initiated by an ISI raid on a residential complex under construction for Indian diplomats in Islamabad. The ISI is Pakistan's spy agency.

A group of 7-8 men raided the residential complex last month and disconnected the electricity and water supply to the property which is owned by India.

Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, met the Pakistan foreign secretary on February 16 to strongly protest such "multiple acts of hooliganism" against Indian staff and property.