ISLAMABAD; Diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and India have flared once again, with Islamabad accusing New Delhi of intensifying harassment against staff at the Pakistani High Commission.
According to diplomatic sources, at least four Pakistani diplomats stationed in New Delhi have been served eviction notices by their landlords, despite their tenancy contracts still being valid.
These diplomats, who reside in privately rented homes, have also faced repeated disruptions, including the cutting off of gas and internet services without prior notice.
Sources further reveal that 17 Pakistani officials, including diplomats, have been awaiting Indian visa extensions for the past three to five months. The requests, submitted to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, remain pending without explanation.
In another escalation, the water supply to the Pakistani High Commission has reportedly been cut off, while delivery of Indian newspapers to the mission has been halted for over six weeks.
The mission has already lodged complaints with Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling the actions a breach of diplomatic norms.
The alleged harassment comes against the backdrop of persistently frosty relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, who have had no substantive diplomatic engagement since the 2019 Pulwama attack and the subsequent Balakot airstrikes.
Both sides have frequently accused each other of mistreating diplomatic staff, with similar incidents reported in the past, despite the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations requiring host nations to ensure the safety, dignity, and operational independence of foreign missions.
