Fresh diplomatic spat? Pakistani help of India's defence attache in Islamabad forced to stop working

Amid ongoing diplomatic hostility, a Pakistani help of India's defence attache was reportedly forced to stop working by the authorities in Islamabad.

The incident comes months after a diplomatic row between two countries and is only likely to add fuel to the fire. According to Times of India, the cases brought to the government's notice were of law and order nature and had nothing to do with harassment.

However, there's no clarity on why the action was taken by Pakistani authorities even after the two countries reached an understanding in March to follow the 1992 Code of Conduct meant to ensure 'smooth and unhindered' functioning of their diplomatic and consular officials.

Earlier this month, Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and his wife were denied access to a famous Sikh Gurduwara near Islamabad.

It was also was conveyed to the Pakistan side that preventing the Indian High Commission officials from discharging their consular responsibilities was in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and the 1974 bilateral Protocol on visit to religious shrines.

However, Pakistan has rejected the allegations saying the diplomat had agreed to cancel his visit following the protests by the Sikh pilgrims against the release of controversial movies in India. In November 2017, India has recalled three diplomats stationed at its High Commission in Islamabad after their identities were made public and Pakistan charged them with 'spying'.

Earlier this year, Islamabad accusing New Delhi of harassing, bullying and targeting its envoys, especially the children. However, New Delhi also said that the Indian diplomats have been facing difficult situations in Pakistan for a long time. But they chose to tackle it with ‘quiet and persistent diplomacy’ "Harassment is the new normal for Indian High Commission personnel in Islamabad," said the MEA.

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