India tells envoys to school their kids outside Pakistan

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.

India has asked diplomats and officials serving in its high commission in Islamabad to make arrangements for the education of their wards outside Pakistan 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 Kabul and 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”. 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. Spouses and children can stay, but they can’t study in Pakistan.

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 this was an “informal, internal administrative arrangement” by India which Islamabad was informed 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. With effect from this academic session, officials posted in the high commission of India in Islamabad have been advised to make arrangements for education of their wards outside Pakistan till further notice.”

It is reliably learnt that the decision was taken in June 2015 to give Indian diplomats and officials there sufficient time to make alternative arrangements for the education of their wards and that Pakistan was told about it then itself.

Meanwhile, in Islamabad, the Pakistan foreign office said, “This is an informal, internal administrative arrangement we were informed of two months back. No other considerations were communicated to us.”

India and Pakistan have been engaged in a bitter war of words over Kashmir ever since protests erupted in the Kashmir Valley after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani. Just last week, India had asked Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of Indian officials and their families in Islamabad in view of threats of marches and protests made to the high commission by radical elements there after Islamabad’s observance of “Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day” and a “Black Day” last week.