Pakistan envoy returns to New Delhi today

Mahmood reportedly left India over incidents of harassment and intimidation against him and his family in Delhi. The High Commission will hold an event to celebrate Pakistan National Day on March 23. Indian envoys are also facing harassment in Pakistan.

Dr. Faisal Mohammad, Spokesperson of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, informed the local media that Mehmood heads back on Thursday, incidentally just a day ahead of the 70th Pakistan National Day celebrations to be hosted by the envoy at the mission on Friday.

India called the High Commissioner being called for consultations as routine affair, though sources in Pakistan suggested that Mehmood’s return would be subject to resolution of the diplomats’ issue.

“The High Commissioner will not return to India anytime soon”, an official source was quoted by the Pakistan media in what was seen as posturing without a formal recall of the envoy. India and Pakistan last recalled their envoys in 2002 following the terror strikes on the Indian Parliament.

India, on the other hand, has sent more than a dozen note verbales to lodge protests against intimidation of Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and other staff members in Islamabad over the last few days through ways similar to the Pakistani complaints.

‘Harassment is the new normal for Indian High Commission personnel in Islamabad’, Ministry of External Affairs said in an earlier response. The incidents of harassment began in January this year.