Islamabad, August 12: Pakistan has stopped gas supply to the homes of Indian diplomats in Islamabad. Apart from this, local gas cylinder suppliers have also been instructed not to sell cylinders to Indian diplomats.
According to India Today’s report, Islamabad has also stopped the supply of mineral water and newspapers. Pakistan has taken this decision as a retaliatory action after India’s Operation Sindoor.
According to the report, this step is part of the plan of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. Under this, Pakistan is taking small actions of revenge.
As a retaliatory measure, India has also stopped delivering newspapers to Pakistani diplomats posted in Delhi.
Pakistan has done such things before
Indian diplomats were similarly harassed by Pakistani authorities after India’s air strike in response to the Pulwama attack in 2019.
At that time, Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria, Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh, and other senior officials, including the Naval Advisor, had faced such behaviour. These incidents included constant following, questioning by security personnel, and making fake phone calls.
According to The Indian Express, there were 19 incidents of harassment of Indian diplomats in Islamabad. Following this increase in harassment of diplomats, the Indian High Commission raised the issue with the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan.
This step of Pakistan is a violation of the Vienna Convention
Pakistan’s decision to stop gas, water and newspapers is a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961). According to Article 25 of the Convention, the host country has to provide all facilities for the smooth functioning of the diplomatic mission.
By deliberately blocking these essential supplies, Pakistan has disrupted the work of the mission and the daily lives of diplomats. The purpose of the convention is to enable diplomats to work without fear or interference. These actions by Pakistan are a direct attempt to create an atmosphere of pressure.