'Unprecedented harassment and intimidation' by Pak at Indian High Commission-organised Iftar in Islamabad

The High Commission of India in Islamabad has issued a statement saying guests faced "unprecedented harassment and intimidation" by Pakistani security agencies.

"A concerted campaign was launched by Pakistan's security agencies in the days preceding the Iftar function to reach out to invitees to actively dissuade them from attending the event," the statement said. "Those guests who did reach the function venue, in some cases from places as far as Lahore and Karachi, were intimidated and physically stopped from attending the Iftar function by Pakistan security forces, who had virtually laid the Serena hotel under siege."

Many guests from the diplomatic community based in Islamabad were also subjected to harassment, the statement added.

"In complete violation of diplomatic norms, a large Pakistani security detachment, equipped with fork lifts, was detailed outside Serena hotel to aggressively turn away Pakistani citizens," it said.

More than 300 Pakistani guests who were turned away included parliamentarians, government officials, media representatives, retired military officials, businessmen and retired diplomats.

The security forces rudely rebuffed and intimidated officers and diplomatic staff of the High Commission of India who tried to ascertain why the guests were being harassed.

"Some officials were jostled, pushed, abused and aggressively threatened with bodily harm. In some cases, mobile phones belonging to officials were snatched away," it said.

India said what transpired on June 1 not only violate basis norms of diplomatic conduct but were against all notions of civilised behaviour.

"Stopping diplomats and officials of the High Commission of India in Pakistan from discharging their diplomatic functions by intimidation and coercion is entirely counter-productive for our bilateral relationship," it said.