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Pakistan briefly detains 2 Indian Embassy employees Pakistan briefly detains 2 Indian Embassy employees
(about 4 hours later)
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani police briefly detained two employees of the Indian Embassy in Islamabad after their car hit and injured a pedestrian the previous day, officials said Tuesday. ISLAMABAD — Pakistani police briefly detained two employees of the Indian Embassy in the capital Islamabad after their car hit and injured a pedestrian the previous day, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Tuesday.
According to two Pakistani security officials, the two men were detained as they tried to flee after the Monday road incident. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to reporters. The two men tried to flee but passersby who witnessed the incident stopped them and informed police, who rushed to the scene and took the two men into custody, Aisha Farooqui said in a statement.
Police said the two employees of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan did not have diplomatic status, which would protect them from arrest and prosecution. The two, both Indian nationals, were later released and there was no comment from Pakistan. Earlier, Islamabad police said the two employees of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan did not have diplomatic status, which would protect them from arrest and prosecution. The two, both Indian nationals, were released Monday.
But the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, said it summoned a Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi on Tuesday to lodge a protest against the “abduction and torture” of two men by Pakistani security agencies. It said the two men were “kept in illegal custody for more than 10 hours.” On Tuesday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that it summoned a Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi to lodge a protest against the “abduction and torture” of the two men by Pakistani security agencies. It said the two men were “kept in illegal custody for more than 10 hours.”
India said the two men were “video-graphed and coerced to accept a litany of fictitious allegations and concocted charges.” It asked Pakistan to adhere to diplomatic norms.India said the two men were “video-graphed and coerced to accept a litany of fictitious allegations and concocted charges.” It asked Pakistan to adhere to diplomatic norms.
There was no immediate comment from Pakistan about the latest Indian allegations, but Pakistan and India routinely expel each other’s diplomats on spying charges. Earlier in June, India expelled two Pakistani Embassy officials after detaining them on spying charges. Farooqui rejected the Indian allegations, calling the statement irresponsible. She said the two Indian embassy employees were involved in a “hit-and-run” incident and in possession of fake currency.
Relations between Pakistan and India deteriorated further after India downgraded the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir from statehood to a federally administered territory in August last year and limited its decision-making power. Farooqui identified the two men as Dwimu Brahma and Selvadas Paul and said they were speeding when they hit the pedestrian. The injured pedestrian was still in an Islamabad hospital Tuesday.
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over control of Kashmir since they won independence from British colonialists in 1947. Kashmir is divided between the two neighbors and claimed by both in its entirety. She said the two men were handed over to an Indian diplomat after confirming their identities.
India accuses Pakistan of arming and training insurgent groups fighting for Kashmir’s independence from India or its merger with Pakistan. Islamabad denies the charge and says it only provides moral and diplomatic support to them. Pakistan and neighboring India routinely expel each other’s diplomats on spying charges. Earlier in June, India expelled two Pakistani Embassy officials after detaining them on spying charges.
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Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma in New Delhi contributed to this report. Sharma reported from New Delhi, India.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.