After India's Strong Demarche, Pakistan Releases 2 High Commission Staffers Arrested In Islamabad

As per the reports, the Indian staffers ran over a passerby and attempted to fee when they were arrested by the Islamabad police.

Pakistan side was asked to return the two officials along with the official car. (Image: AFP)

Islamabad: The two officials of the Indian High Commission to Pakistan who went missing and were reportedly arrested earlier today, have been released and are back at the Indian mission, sources have informed. Earlier in the day, Pakistani Media has reported that the two missing officials of Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan were arrested by the local police over alleged hit-and-run charges. As per the reports, the Indian staffers ran over a passerby and attempted to fee when they were arrested by the Islamabad police. As per reports, Islamabad Police released the two CISF officials after a strong demarche by India as they were charged under bailable offences. The two officials are now back at Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Indian Charge d’ Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia stationed in Pakistan capital Islamabad had said that the vehicle he was travelling in was chased by an unidentified person on a motorbike in Pakistan capital Islamabad. As per sources close to news agency PTI, India has asked Pakistan not to interrogate or harass Indian officials arrested in Islamabad. "Responsibility of safety and security of Indian personnel in Islamabad lays squarely with Pakistani authorities," sources said. It is also being reported that Pakistan side was asked to return the two officials along with the official car to the Indian High Commission immediately. India has also summoned the Pakistan charge d'affaires and lodged a strong protest to him over the reported arrest of two officials in Islamabad. Earlier in the day it was reported that two Indian High Commission staff in Pakistan capital Islamabad went missing under mysterious circumstances early Monday and remain untraceable. The two staffers went out of the High Commission in a vehicle for official duty at around 8:30 Am (IST), but did not reach their destination. The incident comes weeks after India nabbed two Pakistani spies red-handed and sent them back to Pakistan. Previously, Pakistani elements also chased Indian diplomat Gaurav Ahluwalia on a bike. Ahluwalia was chased and intimidated in Islamabad by motorcycle-borne persons suspected to be from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on June 4. The harassment of Indian High Commission officials and obstruction in the discharge of their normal functioning was thereafter taken up through established diplomatic channels.