TESTY TIES
by Pranay Sharma
IN a custom derived through centuries of the practice of diplomacy , a diplomat enjoys immunity under the Vienna Convention from criminal and judicial procedures while serving in a foreign land . As a corollary to it , they are also at a safe distance from physical attacks , harassment and mental torture . The limits of these advantages are , however , seriously tested when Indian and Pakistani diplomats serve in each other ’ s countries .
In 70 years of engagement , relations between India and Pakistan have mostly been spiked with belligerence . But a sure sign of bilateral ties taking a turn for the worse is when diplomats and embassy officials become targets of hostility .
The recent spurt in such incidents has once again brought the ugly side of the troubled relationship to the surface , forcing high commissioners of both countries to lodge formal complaints — about intimidation and regular harassment of their diplomats and offcials — with their hosts . “ The attacks on diplomats are a signal to each other of hostile intent ,” says Pakistani strategic commentator Ayesha Siddiqa .
But the degree of such hostile intent has begun to bother many in the sub-continent and beyond . Its pertinence stems from the current state of relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours . For the past several weeks , Indian and Pakistani soldiers along the Line of Control have been firing at each other ’ s positions , forcing villagers living in the area to evacuate to safer places . This has also raised concerns on whether a brief , armed conflict between them is a natural progression of the current combative spell .
According to India , the cur rent spate of hostility expanding into civilian areas started when its diplomats and offcials were being subjected to harassment and intimidation by Pakistani agencies for nearly a year . Vehicles belonging to the Indian High Comm is sion have been forcibly stopped , houses of Ind ian staff and offcials burgled , even the chancery ’ s con t ractor , under pressure from the agencies , threatened to suspend work .
For days , Indian offcials complain , water and electricity supply to the chancery were also cut off and local guards at the gates were asked to dissuade Pakistani
Diplomacy Served Cold In Enemy Clubs
India and Pakistan harass each other ’ s diplomats , ties plumb new depths , and a fiery horizon is in sight
nationals from visiting the mission .
In February this year , when essential services were cut off and the chancery broken into , Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria thought a “ red line ” had been crossed . Subsequently , he brought it to the notice of the Pakistani foreign ministry and lodged a formal com plaint .
Meanwhile , in New Delhi , Pakistani offcials complain of several incidents of ‘ coe r cion ’, after vehicles of senior diplomats , including that of the deputy high commissioner ferrying his chi ldren from school , were chased and abuses hurled at the drivers and passengers .
Pakistani High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood met senior offcials in South
Block and lodged a formal complaint about the alleged harassment . He says a few more such incidents happened even after lodging the complaint .
On March 9 , a note verbale — a document containing the formal complaint — was submitted by Mahmood to South Block , indicating that in three days there had been six incidents of harassment of Pakistani diplomats and offcials .
In Pakistan , this entire toxic mix was poisoned further when the membership of the coveted Islamabad Club was thrown into it . According to officials , while a membership to the club come automatically to all ambassadors based in Islamabad , Bisaria ’ s member
16 OUTLOOK 26 March 2018