Pakistan HC meets Indian Foreign Secretary, protests arrest of staff member

NEW DELHI: Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi Abdul Basit registered strong protest over the detention of a Pakistani diplomat.

Basit met the Indian Foreign Secretary on Thursday after he was summoned at the Foreign Office."Detention of the Pakistani diplomat is violation of the Vienna Convention," Abdul Basit said.

He asked the Indian Foreign Secretary to ensure that in future such incidents are not repeated as he refuted allegations that the Pakistani diplomat had obtained secret defence documents.

"A Pakistani diplomat cannot be involved in activity which against diplomatic ethics," he said.

Pakistan High Commission Staff Officer Akhtar Mehmood was detained and then released by Indian police on Thursday.

According to reports in the Indian media, Akhtar Mehmood was accused of obtaining Indian defence documents. Mehmood was released as he is entitled to diplomatic immunity, however India has asked him to leave the country in 48 hours. 

Violation of the LoC

Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh to protest repeated ceasefire violations at the Working Boundary and Line of Control (LoC).

The Foreign Office handed a protest letter to the Indian envoy over the ceasefire violations.

In the latest incident, five civilians were injured on Thursday due to Indian unprovoked firing at Charpal and Harpal sectors on the LoC, the ISPR said.

Since the Uri attack in occupied Kashmir, Indian forces have consistently violated the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan. On September 29, India claimed to have conducted surgical strikes in Azad Kashmir, saying that several terrorists were killed in the military action conducted inside Pakistani territory.

The claims were not only rebuffed by Pakistan and the international media, but they also prompted demands from some Indian political leaders for New Delhi to substantiate it with evidence.

Kashmiris observe black day

Kashmiris at either side of the Line of Control (LoC) and rest of the world are observing black day today against Indian occupation of Jammu & Kashmir state since October 27, 1947.

India had landed its armed military troops in Srinagar on this day 69 years ago against the wishes of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

Black flags will be hoisted atop the buildings at both sides of the LoC. People in Azad Jammu Kashmir and the Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir, besides wearing black bands on their arms, would also take out rallies to protest against India’s continued forcible occupation of Jammu & Kashmir state.