India Seeks Probe After Pak Agencies Threaten Indian Mission Staff

The note verbale asked Pakistan to instruct the “relevant agency” to ensure that the incident isn’t repeated.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

Following an incident in which a Delhi woman filed a police complaint against a staff member of the Pakistan High Commission for allegedly touching her inappropriately at a market, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has alleged that Pakistani intelligence agencies are threatening retribution.

The Indian Express has, reportedly, found out that the Indian High Commission sent a "note verbale" to Pakistan Foreign Ministry alleging that Pakistani intelligence agencies are threatening to file "retaliatory complaints" against two Indian diplomats.

A note verbale is unsigned and less formal than a note, but more formal than an aide-me moire and used in diplomatic correspondence.

“On January 15, at 10 am, while going from the High Commission to the World Mart market in Diplomatic enclave, two of the staff members of this mission, were intercepted by Pakistani agency personnel and questioned them about the alleged incident with a Pakistan High Commission official in India on January and why that happened. Further, they threatened mission officials that they would reciprocate in the same way.” 

Indian High Commission’s note verbale, as reported by The Indian Express

The note verbale, further requested the ministry, to probe the incident, instruct the "relevant agency" to make sure that the incident isn't repeated and "kindly share the results of the investigation with the High Commission", reported The Indian Express.

Context

Previously, on 13 January, a woman had alleged that a Pakistan High Commission staffer had touched her inappropriately and he had been taken to the Sarojini Nagar police station. The staffer had subsequently apologised to the lady and was allowed to leave, reported The Indian Express.

India also sent another note verbale, expressing concern, after hearing about a speech delivered in Lahore on 14 January, by UN-designated terror entity, suggesting terror against India.

In that note verbale, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) protested against "the use of Pakistan-controlled territory by extremist and terrorist elements to freely promote violence and terror against India,” reported The Indian Express.

Last year (2018), too, tensions between India and Pakistan had erupted over alleged harassment charges by diplomats of each country, but they had subsequently been resolved and an understanding had been reached. This year's "tit-for-tat" charges may put that understanding at risk.

(With inputs from The Indian Express.)