India Calls Pakistan Mission Demolition Proportionate Move

MEA Defends Reciprocal Demolition

In a bi-weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said authorities had razed temporary structures near the Pakistani High Commission. 

“In Pakistan, some of the structures in front of the Indian High Commission were removed to facilitate parking. Despite our request not to do so, they went ahead with the removal," Jaiswal said.

"We then took proportionate action in response. There were some temporary structures in the lane of the Pakistani High Commission, which we removed," he added.

Pakistan Action Triggered Response

Earlier, officials in New Delhi demolished part of an encroaching area and barricades outside the Pakistani High Commission as they extended beyond the authorized boundary. The removal in the Indian capital followed a move by Pakistan three days back to remove security barricades and parking poles in front of the Indian mission in Islamabad.

The structures removed along the lane adjacent to the Pakistani mission, including queues, were demolished using bulldozers and a similar approach was adopted near the visa center. 

Government Action Clears Unauthorized Structures

Visuals of the aftermath of the demolitions at the site showed construction waste piled high across the pavement outside the high commission, with broken metal railings, gates, twisted iron grills and sheets, bricks everywhere. Building parts were demolished along with barbed metal sheets and white steel barricades along the perimeter.

Even the service windows were seen with plaster broken down and some areas demolished and stone. The window in the visa section, where windows labelled "Window 1, Pakistani Passport Only" and "Window-5 / Collection of Visa Applications" could be seen, still remained partially, but surrounded by demolished structures and construction debris. The front entrance to the High Commission remained untouched. 

India Slams USCIRF As Biased

Meanwhile, the MEA also condemned the "biased" and "unreliable" United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and retorted against its recommendation for sanctions against members of the RSS.

"The organisation you are talking about is known to everyone as a biased organisation, and for many years, it has been making misleading and provocative statements about India," Jaiswal said.

"I would say that we should stay away from such organisations because they peddle their own agenda and, at the same time, have no credibility," he added.