The ministry of external affairs summoned Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit on Wednesday over the cancellation of an event scheduled to be attended by Indian high commissioner Gautam Bambawale in Karachi.
“Pak high commissioner Abdul Basit was summoned to the MEA and was conveyed the concern of the government of India on discourtesy to Indian high commissioner,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
“He was conveyed our hope that our accredited diplomats in Pakistan will be allowed to discharge their normal functions without hindrance,” he said.
Indian officials feel Bambawale’s comments on Pakistan’s interference in Kashmir “rattled the Pakistani authorities, prompting a cancellation”, a source told PTI on Tuesday. “This is very disrespectful on the part of the organisers,” an official said after the last-minute cancellation of the event.
On Monday, during an interactive session organised by the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations, Bambawale had taken a swipe at Pakistan over its interference in Kashmir, saying people living in glass houses should not be throwing stones at others.
“There are problems in both India and Pakistan and you (Pakistan) should focus on resolving your problems before looking into the problems of other countries,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“There are problems in both India and Pakistan and you (Pakistan) should focus on resolving your problems before looking into the problems of other countries,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Bambawale also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was looking forward to visit Pakistan in November to attend a Saarc Summit. New Delhi, however, said no decision had been made yet.