NEW DELHI: Bilateral relations with Pakistan dipped sharply on Tuesday with India directing it to reduce the strength of its High Commission in New Delhi by half, holding it responsible for cross-border violence and terrorism.
According to a statement from the ministry of external affairs, Pakistan’s charge d’affaires Syed Haider Shah was summoned to the ministry and informed about the decision. “Shah was told India will reciprocally reduce its diplomatic presence in Islamabad by the same proportion within a week,” the ministry said.
More often than not, the treatment of diplomats in the Capital is a mirror image of the bilateral relationship.“They have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organisations. The activities of the two officials caught red-handed and expelled on 31 May was one example in that regard,” the statement said.
The decision to reduce the strength of the Pakistan High Commission by half comes a week after two Pakistan High Commission officials were arrested on charges of espionage and sent back. In what was seen as a tit-for-tat, Pakistani authorities arrested two Indian High Commission staffers for their alleged involvement in a hit-and-run case. They were later released and are back in India.
According to sources, the current strength of the Pakistan high commission is 110. However, both missions are not functioning at full strength after Islamabad drastically downgraded ties in August last year following the Centre’s decision to scrap Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
They even refused to send a high commissioner. Both missions are headed by deputy high commissioners.
This is, however, not the first time that Pakistan has been asked to reduce its strength in the High Commission. A similar decision was taken following the 13 December 2001 attack on Parliament. New Delhi has blamed Pakistan-based terror organisations for carrying out the attack.