Our Bureau
New Delhi
With the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan post the terror attack in Kashmir on April 22, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi witnessed massive protests outside its office located in Chanakyapuri.
The police tried to pacify the crowd and asked them to continue their protests at Jantar Manta while the area outside the commission remained on high alert.
The protesters were also seen encouraging the steps taken by the Indian government in retaliation and praising the unity the nation is witnessing. “It is good to see that everyone is standing together. Whatever decisions the government has taken so far are encouraging,” said one of the protestors.
India has far taken a host of diplomatic retaliatory measures against Pakistan in the aftermath of Pahalgam including suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty reducing its mission strength by half, and expelling diplomats and top defence officials from the Pakistan High Commission. India has also cancelled all visas granted to Pakistan nationals under a SAARC scheme and directed them to leave in 48 hours along with shutting down the Attari-Wagah border. It also withdrew its own advisors and staff from its mission in Islamabad. In one of the latest developments, India now has withheld access to the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Government of Pakistan.
After the protests on Wednesday, the Delhi Police has now removed at least two layers of barricades outside the Pakistan High Commission. The diplomatic office was guarded with a three-layer barricading on April 22 post the horrific attack killing 26 people and stepped-up security measures. On Thursday morning, however, only a single layer of barricades could be seen — put up around 500 m from the High Commission – guarded by police personnel.
