Tit-for-tat by Pak? Indian goes missing, later returns
An Indian high commission official in Islamabad went missing after being picked up by Pakistani intelligence agencies Thursday evening, hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani returned home from a dinner meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Mohali. The official is learnt to have been since returned to the high commission just as mysteriously as he had disappeared. The incident highlights the continuing systemic distrust between the two countries.
The incident is being seen here as a retaliation for the detention and subsequent release of a Pakistan high commission driver who entered a prohibited area near Chandigarh airport on the day Mr Gilani landed there.
The driver was detained for questioning and soon released, which was later confirmed by the Pakistani authorities.
The Indian official went missing around 5.30 pm Thursday while returning home from work. The high commission immediately contacted the Pakistani authorities, asking them to trace him and ensure his safety and well-being. Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao also telephoned her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir on the matter.
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