The government of India led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to reduce the staff strength of Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi by 50 per cent.
The Express Tribune reported that a statement issued by the Indian External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday said that the decision was conveyed to the Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan. It added that India would also reduce the staff strength of its diplomatic mission in Islamabad by the same amount.
The Indian government also blamed Pakistan for further ‘downgrading’ in the diplomatic ties. There has been no reaction yet from Islamabad but officials said a meeting is underway at the Foreign Office to discuss the latest development.
It was reported on Monday that the Pakistani authorities released two Indian High Commission officials, Dwimu Brahma and Paul Selvadhas, who were detained following a hit-and-run accident in Islamabad. They were handed over to India through Wagah Border on Monday. The Foreign Office had confirmed that the said Indian officials had arrived in Pakistan in 2017, and were found to possess counterfeit currency. They were arrested on June 15 but freed after the intervention of the Foreign Office in the case.
On May 31, India declared two staffers of the Pakistani mission persona non grata after accusing them of espionage. Both were expelled later. However, Pakistan strongly dismissed Indian claims and instead accused New Delhi for violating the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.
The Express Tribune reported that a statement issued by the Indian External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday said that the decision was conveyed to the Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan. It added that India would also reduce the staff strength of its diplomatic mission in Islamabad by the same amount.
The Indian government also blamed Pakistan for further ‘downgrading’ in the diplomatic ties. There has been no reaction yet from Islamabad but officials said a meeting is underway at the Foreign Office to discuss the latest development.
It was reported on Monday that the Pakistani authorities released two Indian High Commission officials, Dwimu Brahma and Paul Selvadhas, who were detained following a hit-and-run accident in Islamabad. They were handed over to India through Wagah Border on Monday. The Foreign Office had confirmed that the said Indian officials had arrived in Pakistan in 2017, and were found to possess counterfeit currency. They were arrested on June 15 but freed after the intervention of the Foreign Office in the case.
On May 31, India declared two staffers of the Pakistani mission persona non grata after accusing them of espionage. Both were expelled later. However, Pakistan strongly dismissed Indian claims and instead accused New Delhi for violating the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.