MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal slams Pakistan
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on August 21, Friday said that the dismantling of temporary structures in the lane outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi came as a “proportionate action” in response to Pakistani authorities removing some structures outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
The development comes days after Pakistani authorities removed parking poles and other security-related structures outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Addressing a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that despite India’s request, Pakistani authorities removed the structures.
“Some of the structures in front of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan were removed for the convenience of parking. Despite this, we requested them not to do this. So after that happened, we took what we might call a proportionate action in response,” Jaiswal said. He added that temporary structures placed in the lane outside the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi were subsequently removed.
According to government sources, the action in New Delhi involved the removal of a queue liner installed outside the Pakistan High Commission The reciprocal action comes amid ruptured India-Pakistan ties following the Pahalgam terror attack and India drawing a clear red line in dealing with a country, who adopt terrorism as a state-sponsored policy.
The Ministry of External Affairs also said that it sees no reason to comment on Pakistan’s “frustration” after Islamabad summoned a top US diplomat following US Ambassador Sergio Gor’s recent remarks on Jammu and Kashmir being an “important part of India”.
Addressing the bi-weekly press briefing of the MEA, Jaiswal said, “I will repeat, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and indivisible parts of India. They were, they are and they will remain so”. “I see no reason to comment on Pakistan’s frustration. This is what I have to say”, he said in response to a question on Pakistan sparking a diplomatic protest over US Ambassador Gor’s remarks.
Islamabad on August 19, Wednesday summoned the US Charge d’Affaires and lodged a protest stating that his remarks regarding the status of Jammu and Kashmir were “factually incorrect” and contradict Washington’s longstanding position on Kashmir.
Ambassador Sergio Gor had on August 19, Wednesday called Jammu and Kashmir an “important part of India” after meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar during the first standalone visit by the US envoy to the Union Territory since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam in 2025.
Addressing mediapersons after the meeting, Gor, commended the security efforts made by the administration of the Union Territory and the Centre to make Jammu and Kashmir safer and signalled a potential shift in Washington’s stance by indicating that the US may re-evaluate and “downgrade” its highest-level travel warning for J&K.
(With Inputs from ANI)
