New Delhi, February 7
The India-Pakistan relations appeared to be on yet another downslide as the Vajpayee government was tonight understood to be contemplating expelling Pakistan’s Charge d’ Affaires here, Mr Jaleel Abbas Gilani, over charges of funding the separatist movement in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is understood to have sent its confidential report to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) today in which it has recommended expulsion of Mr Gilani.
Till late tonight, the Vajpayee government had not taken any decision on the MHA’s recommendation as top officials of the MEA and the Prime Minister’s Office
(PMO) were busy in talks with the visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin at Hyderabad House and the talks were followed by dinner.
The seniormost Pakistani diplomat may be declared a persona non grata
(PNG) soon, well-placed sources told “The Tribune”. Pakistan is sure to retaliate with an equal and opposite reaction and if Mr Gilani were to be expelled, the Indian Charge d’ Affaires in Islamabad can expect a similar fate.
Sources said it would not be easy for the government to take such a decision and would have to take into consideration the larger political and diplomatic picture.
Indo-Pak relations have steadily deteriorated over the past four years and the two high commissions now have a staff of just 51 persons in each country.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs came out with its first reaction, though cautious, this evening. It said: “We have received reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard and these are under our full and detailed consideration.”
The Pakistan High Commission here rejected the allegations and said it had already lodged a strong protest with the MEA on this “uncalled for and lamentable propaganda campaign”. In a strongly-worded statement, the High Commission said it “condemns this reprehensible vicious propaganda and regrets that this anti-Pakistan tirade of insults which is in contravention of all diplomatic norms and practices (which) would further vitiate the already tense bilateral relations.”
Responding to the Pakistani denial, the MEA maintained: “We are not surprised with these denials. These were expected. Pakistan has similarly been denying its proven sponsorship of cross-border terrorism for nearly two decades.”
