Prime minister Narendra Modi seems to have successfully turned India into a country that frequently uses strength or influence to harm or intimidate states who are weaker. Italy's protest against India, for example, is a strong case in point. No doubt, India has committed a grave violation of a universal convention on diplomatic immunity by preventing the Italian ambassador from leaving the country in an escalating row over the case of two Italian marines on trial for killing two Indian fishermen. Although it is not important to debate whether or not Italy is a weaker or stronger country vis-a-vis India, New Delhi's action is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The other example of India's growing diplomatic belligerence is continued harassment of Pakistan High Commission staff and families by its intelligence agencies. There is no doubt about the fact that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition government has miserably failed to stop these despicable incidents; it is in fact fomenting intimidation and promoting harassment of Pakistani diplomats and their families stationed in New Delhi. In one of the latest incidents, a car of Pakistani high commission official was intercepted by another vehicle followed by the humiliation of his pictures being taken in front of general public. Children of a Pakistani diplomat were subjected to harassment in the second incident as the car they were travelling in was intercepted on a busy highway of the Indian capital. Earlier, a senior Pakistani officer was harassed when his vehicle was stopped in Chanakyapuri neighbourhood of the Indian capital and was left with no other option but to return to the high commission. In another incident, children of the deputy high commissioner were stopped while going to school and their driver was harassed.

According to reports, the high commission has once again raised the issue with the Indian ministry of external affairs. Following the recent escalation in incidents of such nature Pakistani diplomats, their children and families are finding it difficult to stay in New Delhi due to the intimidating behaviour of the Indian authorities. Pakistan's Foreign Office has officially conveyed its reservations on the matter to the Indian authorities, saying that performing their duties in New Delhi will become very difficult under the current circumstances. An estimated 500 to 600 Pakistanis including 104 officials and staffers at the high commission and their family members are currently stationed in the Indian capital. A couple of days ago, TV channels aired footage shot by one of Pakistan's diplomats to show his car being deliberately blocked in traffic by a slow-moving car in New Delhi. The incident took place while the diplomat was returning to his home in Vasant Vihar. High Commission officials pointed out that this was done by Indian security and intelligence agencies. Yesterday, TV channels broadcast another video to show a Pakistani diplomat, his wife and children being harassed by the personnel of intelligence agencies at two different places in the Indian capital.

It is undeniably true that diplomats in hostile countries often face some harassment. But there are always some limits to acts of aggressive pressure and intimidation. Even during the days of the Cold War, for example, the conduct of rival states was always characterized by some subtle, precise and careful treatments. But the current political dispensation in India is literally bereft of diplomatic niceties as it has clearly demonstrated that it is least bothered about the sanctity of the Vienna Convention. Not only has Pakistan, therefore, recalled High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood from New Delhi, it has also decided to stay away from the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) ministerial moot to be hosted by India from March 19 to 20. It is about time New Delhi revisited its strategy in relation to diplomatic norms and responsibilities because the safety of not only Pakistani diplomats but all foreign diplomats and their families is the responsibility of the Indian government.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018