Pak-India diplomatic row deepens as Pakistan's diplomat won't go back to New Delhi

Tensions between the arch rivals in South Asia - Pakistan and India - are running high as both the countries have accused each other of harassing diplomatic staff and their families in Islamabad and New Delhi.

After Pakistan has recalled on Friday its high commissioner to India, Sohail Mehmood, to discuss with him diplomatic tension, it has been decided that he will not return anytime soon to New Delhi, official sources in the foreign office said.

Pakistan, during the recent past, has been accusing India of harassing the diplomatic staff and their families in New Delhi. 

According to official news agency APP, spokesman for the foreign office, Dr. Mohammad Faisal mentioned the incidents of harassing Pakistani diplomatic officials and family of deputy high commissioner in India saying these were not the ordinary happenings.

He said families of diplomats in any country were not harassed even during war times as they were considered guests of the country. Dr. Muhammad Faisal said India seemed to be confused after the arrest of its spy K.Jhadav in Pakistan.

Foreign Office said, "The staff of Pakistan High Commission and their families continue to face “intense harassment, intimidation and outright violence from the Indian state agencies”. The Foreign Office said that “these [incidents] have escalated exponentially in the last few days”. 

A couple of days earlier, the Times of India reported that the diplomatic wrangle between India and Pakistan took another turn for the worse, as New Delhi alleged that the country's diplomats were facing harassment and being prevented from discharging their duties in Islamabad.

"Indian High Commission in Pakistan is facing many issues. We've reached out through established diplomatic channels to Islamabad. We want that our Commission in Islamabad functions smoothly, the officials are not harassed, their work is not obstructed and that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 is abided by," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a press briefing.

In the wake of the diplomatic stand-off, Pakistan has reportedly decided to pull out of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meet, which is scheduled to take place on March 19-20, in New Delhi, India.

The Pakistan Today editorial among other issues exposed Modi's agenda for general elections in India. The editorial says, "General elections in India are scheduled for 2019. It would be shortsighted on Modi’s part to continue to ratchet up the anti-Pakistan rhetoric to placate his Hindu nationalist lobby. Riding the tiger might be an exhilarating experience but the consequences are bound to be unpleasant. Statesmanship requires working out a peaceful solution to outstanding problems with neighboring countries."