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According to official sources, Pakistan has significantly ramped up its harassment of Indian diplomats in Islamabad following 'Operation Sindoor,' a recent Indian military action that targeted nine terror camps and neutralised over 100 terrorists.

The harassment, which began on Monday, has included a complete halt to newspaper deliveries to the Indian High Commission and the residences of Indian diplomats. In a reciprocal move, India has stopped the supply of newspapers to Pakistani diplomats stationed in New Delhi.

Sources indicate that the Pakistani authorities have also intensified aggressive surveillance of Indian diplomatic staff. There have been reports of unauthorised entries into Indian diplomatic residences and offices, which officials state are clear violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This convention guarantees the safety, dignity, and inviolability of diplomatic personnel and their premises.

 

In addition to surveillance and unauthorised entry, Indian diplomats are facing issues with obtaining basic amenities. Sources said that Pakistani authorities recently have instructed local vendors to stop cooperating with Indian officials for essential supplies like cooking gas and water. Previously, these vendors sold crucial fuel for cooking and heating to the Indian mission.

 

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Similar actions taken in 2019 are reflected in this increase in pressure tactics against Indian diplomatic staff. At that time, Pakistani authorities launched a persistent campaign of harassment against Indian diplomatic personnel after India launched surgical strikes in retaliation for the Pulwama terror attack. 

A source in Islamabad noted that the current situation is reminiscent of those events, stating, "This has happened earlier too when after India conducted surgical strikes post Pulwama attack in 2019. Indian diplomats were harassed in a similar manner at that time also.”

 

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