The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has asked diplomats and officials at the Indian high commission in Islamabad to make arrangements for the education of their wards outside Pakistan from this academic session.
Pakistan is now a 'non-school-going station' for Indian diplomatic staff.
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has asked diplomats and officials at the Indian high commission in Islamabad to make arrangements for the education of their wards outside Pakistan from this academic session.
This virtually means downgrading Islamabad to a "non-school-going station".
The MEA says such an advisory was issued in June last year to provide sufficient time for staff members. It was reissued as a reminder ahead of the new academic session, sources said. They said that the decision actually stemmed from the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in December 2014.
According to MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup, "it is a normal practice for all countries to review staffing and related policies for their diplomatic missions." The no-kids policy is followed by a number of missions in Islamabad. Germany, France, Australia, UN organisations, the UK (under 12), the US, Canada and EU are prominent among them. "So our approach is in consonance with the policy adopted by several nations," Swarup said.
Pakistani media have reported that the decision has sent shock waves in the country, fearing that it would further strain bilateral ties.
Pakistan foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said India had informed them about the decision two months back. "This is an informal, internal, administrative arrangement. We were informed two months back. No other considerations were communicated to us," he said.
As many as 50 schoolchildren of Indian diplomatic staff are studying at the International School of Islamabad (ISOI), also known as American School. Another 10 were enrolled in the Roots International School during the last academic session.
The campuses are closed right now for summer vacation and would open next month. The school authorities have also requested the Indian government to review the decision.
Last week, India had asked Pakistan to ensure full safety and security for the high commission, its officials and their families in Pakistan, in view of the threats of marches and protests by various groups in the wake of Hizb commander Burhan Wani's killing and the subsequent unrest in Kashmir.
Under the criteria of "No School-Going Mission", diplomatic staff are not allowed to take their school-going children with them.
Both countries employ restrictions on the free movement of students. In New Delhi or Islamabad, whenever school administrations plan a trip outside the capital area, they have to seek prior approval from authorities.
Pakistani diplomats and their wards in New Delhi cannot cross river Yamuna to visit East Delhi or Noida, which now houses most media houses. Similarly, Indian diplomats in Islamabad cannot visit the adjacent city of Rawalpindi, which is just across a highway.
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