India asks Pakistan to cut 50% in embassy staff

New Delhi: India on Tuesday issued the order to Pakistan to cut their staff by half in New Delhi and further said, it plans to reduce its own staff in Islamabad signalling a further downward spiral in ties.

Relations between the nuclear-armed rivals are strained and tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, often on charges of espionage, are common.

Neither country has a permanent ambassador in place. From last few months each country has been accusing each other for torturing and illegally arresting their diplomats.

“The behaviour of Pakistan and its officials is not in conformity with the Vienna Convention and bilateral agreements on the treatment of diplomatic and consular officials. On the contrary, it is an intrinsic element of a larger policy of supporting cross-border violence and terrorism,” the foreign ministry said. “Therefore, the government of India has taken the decision to reduce the staff strength in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi by 50%. It would reciprocally reduce its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion. This decision, which is to be implemented in seven days, was conveyed to the Pakistani Charge d’Affaires.” The diplomat was summoned to the foreign ministry in New Delhi.

Last time the two countries cut their diplomatic staff by half was during heightened tensions in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Indian parliament on 13 December, 2001.

“They [Pakistan] have been engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organisations,” the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

India has also said that the conduct of Pakistani officials was a violation of the Geneva Convention and “an intrinsic element of a larger policy of supporting cross-border violence and terrorism”.

Both countries said the staff cuts will be made within seven days.

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