New Delhi asks Islamabad to beef up security of Indian mission in Pakistan

Against the backdrop of the Sri Lanka bombings that left over 250 dead, India has asked Pakistan to beef up the security of the Indian High Commission as well as its diplomats in Islamabad. The India mission in Colombo was among the targets on April 21.

The communication dated May 3 also comes amid continued harassment of Indian diplomats in Pakistan. In the latest intimidation, two Indian diplomats were locked in a room in Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad, Sheikhupura, in April. They officials were asked not to visit the holy site and were dealt with aggressively by Pakistani security agencies, prompting New Delhi to raise the harassment with Islamabad.

In November 2018 too, Indian diplomats were stopped in the same gurdwara by Gopal Chawla, a close aide of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

On both occasions, the diplomats were present to do consular duties for the Indian pilgrims visiting the Sikh shrine.

Since December, Indian diplomats have been facing a number of problems – from deliberate power outages to being stopped and questioned, and sometimes even chased by Pakistani security agencies.