Pak says India’s choice for mission post ‘too senior’

Pakistan on Sunday stated the diplomat proposed by India as the subsequent appearing head of the Indian mission in Islamabad is just too senior for the publish even because it sought to hyperlink bilateral relations to the decision of the Kashmir subject.

The title of Jayant Khobragade was proposed to the Pakistani aspect in June, days earlier than New Delhi requested Islamabad to scale back the power of its excessive fee by 50%.

The transfer had triggered a reciprocal choice by the Pakistani aspect.

People aware of developments stated on situation of anonymity that the Pakistani aspect felt the diplomat was too senior to operate because the cost d’affaires. One of the folks stated Khobragade’s present task – he has been serving on deputation with the Department of Atomic Energy since 2017 – might have been a think about Pakistan’s choice.

The Indian and Pakistani excessive commissions within the two nationwide capitals have been headed by the deputy chiefs of mission since August 2019, when Pakistan requested India to withdraw then excessive commissioner Ajay Bisaria as a part of a slew of retaliatory actions in response to India’s choice to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its particular standing.

Pakistan additionally opted at the moment to not go forward with the posting of the diplomat who had been chosen as its subsequent envoy to India.

An announcement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson stated: “Pakistan believes that by proposing a senior diplomat, who has already served as ambassador in another post, India is trying to circumvent the effect of downgrading of diplomatic relations, which is obviously not in line with Pakistan’s decision.”

Khobragade, who served as a counsellor within the Indian mission in Islamabad some years in the past, has additionally held assignments in Russia, Kazakhstan and Spain, and was ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic throughout 2013-17.

“However, keeping in view the diplomatic norms, Pakistan has counselled India to nominate an officer with seniority commensurate with Pakistan’s decision of downgrading the diplomatic relations,” the assertion added.

The Pakistani spokesperson referred to “veiled threats” in sections of the Indian media that the visa subject would “further destabilise” bilateral ties and stated that “it must be clear that the relations between India and Pakistan are inextricably linked to the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions”.

There was no rapid response from Indian officers to the Pakistani spokesperson’s feedback.