Shift your kids from Pakistan, envoys advised

Indian government sources said New Delhi informed Islamabad of its decision last month, soon after the decision was taken.

Update: 2016-07-25 20:35 GMT
School fee regulation JAC chairman Aravinda Jata backed the proposal of the Centre. (Representational image)

New Delhi: India has asked diplomats and officials serving in its high commission in Islamabad to make arrangements for the education of their wards outside Pakistan from this academic session onwards, a move seen as a worsening of India-Pakistan ties.

While there are already “non-family stations” for Indian diplomats in conflict zones such as the Afghan capital Kabul and the Iraqi capital Baghdad, this decision regarding Pakistan — taken last month after a “review of staffing and related policies for diplomatic missions, including in view of  prevailing circumstances at those stations” — is being seen as a significant downgrading of Pakistan, reducing it to a “non-school-going station”.

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Indian government sources said New Delhi informed Islamabad of its decision last month, soon after the decision was taken. According to reports, there are about 50 school-going children of Indian officials currently posted to the Indian mission in Islamabad. While spouses and children cannot stay with Indian diplomats and officials in non-family stations, this will not be the case with Islamabad provided the children are not schooling there.

Speculation is rife that Indian intelligence agencies may have cautioned the government in New Delhi of a possible security threat to the children of Indian diplomats in Islamabad. Pakistan reacted Monday, saying it was an “informal, internal administrative arrangement” by India which Islamabad was informed of about two months ago.

The ministry of external affairs issued a statement in New Delhi on Monday saying, “It is normal practice for all countries to review staffing and related policies for their diplomatic missions, including in view of prevailing circumstances at those stations.

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