Indian intelligence hindering reopening of consulate in Mumbai: Pak officials

Pakistan has accused India of placing serious obstacles in the way of reopening their consulate in Mumbai by not providing an appropriate place for it.

Karachi, July 2 : Pakistan has accused India of placing serious obstacles in the way of reopening their consulate in Mumbai by not providing an appropriate place for it.

According Pakistan's Foreign Office officials, Indian intelligence officials are doing their best to ensure that property owners in Mumbai do not rent out or sell their buildings to the Pakistani authorities.

"We strongly suspect that the Indian agencies were behind the refusal of the residents of Mittal Chambers at Nariman Point, Mumbai, that was identified by us for the reopening of our consulate," an FO official told the Daily Times.

He said that the Government of India and the Maharashtra Government were 'pretending' to help Pakistani High Commission officials in identifying places for opening their consulate.

The officials went on to claim that some of the places identified by the Indian authorities for this purpose were not considered safe for security reasons.

Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam also said that non-cooperation from the Indian authorities in locating an appropriate place was hindering the process.

She said an agreement between the Pakistani High Commission officials and the owner of a compound was reached in this regard in Mumbai, but suddenly people of the area raised objections and the former had to look for other places.

"I can't say it was an act of the Indian Government or their agencies, but certainly we are facing problems in housing our consulate in Mumbai. Unless we find a safe place, we can't move ahead as both consulates have to be reopened simultaneously as per the mutual understanding," she said.

The Political and Visa Counsellor at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, S.K Reddy, also feels that Pakistan's inability to get a suitable premise in Mumbai is the main hurdle in the reopening of the Indian Consulate in Karachi.

"We are ready to open our consulate in Karachi within 24 hours. Our consulate building here in Karachi is ready and once it starts functioning, it can expedite the process of issuance of visas for those intending to visit India" the daily quoted him, as saying.

The Pakistani consulate in Mumbai was closed down after Islamabad shut down the Indian consulate in Karachi in December 1994 after declaring it a "centre for sabotage, subversion and terrorism."

ANI