Lok Sabha Question No. 108 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Recall of Diplomats
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.108 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.11.2016

## RECALL OF DIPLOMATS

- *108. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a number of diplomats including officials have been recalled or have been asked to leave the country by India and Pakistan in the recent past;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the present sanctioned strength of Indian High Commission in Pakistan and Pakistan High Commission in India; and
- (d) the  details  of  diplomatic  channels  being  used  by  both  the countries to normalise the situation?

ANSWER THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 108 REGARDING 'RECALL OF DIPLOMATS' FOR ANSWER ON 23.11.2016

On October 27, 2016 a staff member of the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi, Mehmood Akhtar, was apprehended by Indian authorities while indulging in anti India activities and was declared persona non grata o n October 28, 2016.

2. Government summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner on October 28, 2016 and registered strong protest about the activities of Mehmood Akhtar. He left India on October 29, 2016 along with his family.
3. On October 28, 2016 the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Shri Surjeet  Singh,  Assistant  Public  Welfare  Officer  in  the  Indian  High  Commission  in Islamabad  as persona  non  grata without  providing  any  justification,  except  for  the baseless  and  unsubstantiated  allegation  that  his  activities  were  not  in  keeping  with diplomatic norms. Shri Surjeet Singh subsequently returned to India on October 29, 2016.
4. On November 2, 2016 Government of Pakistan withdrew six Pakistan High Commission  officials (Syed  Farrukh  Habib,  Counsellor;  Mudassar  Iqbal  Cheema, First  Secretary  (Press);  Muhammad  Sahid  Sohail,  First  Secretary  (Trade);  Imtiaz Hussain, Driver and Staff Members Meherban Ali and Ashiq Ali Bhutto) whose names had reportedly appeared in media as a result of the interrogation of Mehmood Akhtar. It was Government of Pakistan's own decision to withdraw these six officials without any prior communication to the Government of India regarding the same. They left India on November 2, 2016 along with 25 family members .
5. Pakistan  withdrew  another  two  officials,  Muhammad  Nawaz  and  Sajjad  Ali Butt along with seven family members on November 16, 2016.
6. On  November  2,  2016  Pakistani  media  prominently  carried  names  of  eight Indian officials of the High Commission of India, Islamabad (S/Shri R K Agnihotri, Counsellor; Balbir Singh, First Secreatary; Anurag Singh, First Secreatary (Trade); Amandeep  Singh  Bhatti,  Attache;  J  Senthil,  APWO  and  Assistants  D  Sodhi,  V  K

Verma and M Nandakumar) , along with their photographs. The media reports alleged that these officials were involved in subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan. On November  3,  in  the  weekly  media  briefing  Pakistani  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs officially  released  their  names  and  official  designations.  The  litany  of  baseless charges against them was repeated.

7. In view of safety and security of these officials and their family members, all of them returned to India in three batches on November 8, 10 and 12, 2016.

8. The allegations against Indian officials represent an afterthought on the part of Government of Pakistan and constitute a crude attempt to tarnish the image of India. The  manner  in  which  their  names  and  photographs  were  prominently  published  in Pakistani media along with baseless allegation reiterated without any corraboration by Pakistan  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  is  against  the  Vienna  Convention  and  also violates the norms of established diplomatic practice and courtesies.

9. As  per  mutual  understanding  between  India  and  Pakistan,  the  effective strength of respective diplomatic Missions cannot exceed 110 at any point of time.

10. Government  had  taken  a  number  of  initiatives  to  normalise  India-Pakistan relations,  peacefully  and  bilaterally,  in  an  environment  free  from  terrorism  and violence.  At  the  same  time,  Government  is  also  resolutely  committed  to  take  all necessary steps to ensure the security of the nation and the safety of our citizens.

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