India has lodged complaint about the harassment of two of its diplomats in Pakistan ( Representative image)

Islamabad: India has complained to the Pakistani authorities about the harassment of two of its diplomats by intelligence personnel last month and has raised concerns about the security of Indian High Commission in Islamabad, reports said. Indian authorities submitted a demarche to Pakistan’s Foreign Office recently, as per reports.

The demarche conveyed to Pakistan the concerns raised by India about the security of its high commission in the neighbouring country, Hindustan Times quoted sources as saying. However, the sources refused to divulge the details of the security threat but noted that it was a “serious matter.”

India also sent a separate note verbale to the Pakistani authorities on April 25, detailing the incident on April 17 when two of its diplomats were harassed and detained at Sacha Sauda Gurdwara near Lahore, the report said. Sources told the daily that the incident occurred when the diplomats were at the shrine to facilitate and help Indian pilgrims.

15 Pakistani intelligence personnel allegedly locked the two diplomats in a room for about half an hour, sources said. They added that the intelligence officials also questioned the diplomats and went through their belongings. The diplomats were also warned by the intelligence personnel not to come back to the area before they were allowed to leave.

The note verbale submitted by India asked Pakistan to launch an inquiry into the issue and to ensure that there is no repetition of such incidents again.

In the past, there have been several incidents of Indian diplomats being harassed while trying to help Sikh pilgrims visiting several gurdwaras in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Additionally, pro-Khalistani groups in Pakistan have also confronted Indian pilgrims with their propaganda.

In March as well, India had raised the issue of its diplomats' harassment by Pakistani officials in the neighbouring country. At least six incidents of harassment of India's Naval advisor in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Captain Peter Varghese, was reported by the mission to Pakistan government in March. The diplomat’s harassment had taken place following the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pulwama attack in February 14 and the subsequent retaliatory air strikes by India in Balakot on February 26.

