Indian envoy meets Pak NSA, stresses on improving ties

Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria paid a courtesy call on Pakistan National Security Advisor (NSA) Lieutenant General (Retd.) Naseer Khan Janjua in Islamabad on Tuesday.

According to sources, Bisaria sensitised Janjua on issues of India's concern. Also, the two sides held constructive discussions on improving the bilateral relationship.

It is to be noted that envoys call regularly on dignitaries of the host country. This was a meeting, which was scheduled a week earlier.

For the unversed, two separate incidents of intimidation of four High Commission officials were reported by sources on March 19.

The Indian High Commission on March 22 sent a Note Verbale to the Pakistan High Commission reporting about four separate incidents of harassments with Indian Deputy High Commissioner, Naval Attache of the Mission, Deputy High Commissioner and the Second Secretary (Political) of the Mission.

Further, the website of the High Commission of India was intermittently blocked by the attackers over a period of time affecting the normal functioning of the Mission.

Taking note of the matters, New Delhi and Islamabad on Friday agreed to mutually resolve concerns over the treatment of each other's diplomats.

A Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement read, "India and Pakistan mutually agreed to resolve matters related to the treatment of diplomats and diplomatic premises, in line with the 1992 Code of Conduct for the treatment of diplomatic/consular personnel in India and Pakistan".

The already souring ties between India and Pakistan have taken a sharp plunge ever since ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces have increased along the Line of Control (LoC) and terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir have seen a rise in the last few months.