No school kids in Pak, India tells staff

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25

In yet another downturn in ties with Pakistan, India today asked its embassy staff in Islamabad to send their school-going children back to the country. Security concerns for officials have increased since the tension over Kashmir, sources say. 

Hopes for the resumption of talks, which have been suspended since the Pathankot attack in January this year, remain grim. At present, 50-60 children of the staff posted at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad attend the International School there.

“It is a normal practice for all countries to review staffing and related policies for their diplomatic missions, including in view of the prevailing circumstances at those stations. With effect from this academic session, officials posted at the High Commission of India in Islamabad have been advised to make arrangements for the education of their wards outside Pakistan, till further notice,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

Officially, it is being maintained that the decision was taken in 2015 so that the diplomatic staff had sufficient time to make alternative arrangements.

The India-Pakistan narrative has actually worsened over the past few weeks with both countries raising the rhetoric over Kashmir. The Pakistan Prime Minister recently said Kashmir would one day become a part of Pakistan, while External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj hit back saying that Pakistan’s “dream will not be realised till the end of eternity”.

The issue of Kashmir has of late come to dominate the India-Pak narrative and it shows little sign of sliding off the mantle. This has been a major factor behind today’s decision, according to sources. Indian officials in Pakistan will now need to take into consideration the fact that Pakistan is a “no school-going children” mission.