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Reuters, April 17, 2002 02:00 AM ET
Pakistan Says Its Diplomat Was
Tortured in India
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - Islamabad accused India on
Wednesday of detaining and torturing a Pakistani diplomat in New
Delhi with electric shocks.
A Foreign Ministry statement alleged that diplomat Ali Abbass was
"abducted, illegally detained and tortured," by at
least a dozen Indian intelligence agents.
"He was severely beaten up and taken to an undisclosed
location where he was subjected to severe torture including
electric shocks," the statement said.
"As a result of the torture inflicted on Ali Abbass, he has
been passing blood in his urine."
The statement said Pakistan had lodged a strong protest with the
Indian government over what it called the "cowardly and
provocative action."
Pakistan and India, which have fought three wars since
independence in 1947, frequently expel each other's diplomats on
charges of spying.
The two countries, which have fought two of those wars over the
disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, are locked in a tense stand
off with more than a million troops facing each other across the
border.
New Delhi says it will not withdraw its forces unless Islamabad
stops arming and training militants sent into Indian-ruled
Kashmir, where a rebellion has been underway for 12 year.
Pakistan says it gives only moral and diplomatic support to
guerrillas in India's only-Muslim majority state.
The News International, Wednesday, April
17, 2002
Pakistan condemns India for
torturing diplomat
ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan on Tuesday strongly
condemned the abduction, illegal detention and torture of Ali
Abbas, an official of the High Commission of Pakistan in New
Delhi, by the operatives of the Indian intelligence.
A Foreign Office spokesman said at around 1130 hours on Tuesday
Ali Abbas was abducted by at least 12 Indian intelligence
operatives. "He was severely beaten up and taken to an
undisclosed location, where he was subjected to severe torture
including electric shocks. As a result of the torture inflicted
on Ali Abbas, he has been passing blood in his urine."
The spokesman said the government of Pakistan has lodged a strong
protest with the Indian government over the cowardly, despicable
and provocative action by Indian intelligence operatives.
"The Indian government has been told that there is a limit
to acts of violence against officials of Pakistan's High
Commission in New Delhi."
He said these attacks are in flagrant violation of the Vienna
Convention of 1961 on diplomatic relations, as well as the
bilateral code of conduct signed between the two countries in
August 1992.
The News International, Thursday, April 18,
2002
Pakistan condemns Indian move
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned India's
decision to seek withdrawal of a staff member of Pakistan High
Commission in New Delhi on trumped up charges. It termed Indian
allegations are a shoddy attempt to cover up inhuman and
uncivilised behaviour of its intelligence agencies.
"Pakistan strongly condemns the government of India's
decision to seek withdrawal from India of Ali Abbas, a staff
member of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, on trumped
up charges," a Foreign Office spokesman said.
The Indian decision follows the abduction, illegal detention and
brutal torture of Ali Abbas on Tuesday, by the Indian
intelligence operatives. In a statement here, he said, Pakistan
categorically rejects the Indian allegations about the
involvement of Ali Abbas in activities incompatible with his
official status. "The Indian allegations are a shoddy
attempt to cover up the uncivilised, inhuman and provocative
behaviour of the Indian intelligence agencies," he added.
However, in New Delhi, India denied allegations it detained and
tortured a Pakistani diplomat with electric shocks, saying he had
been treated in line with the law. "There's no truth,
absolutely no truth in the allegation that there was torture of
this individual," External Affairs Ministry spokeswoman
Nirupama Rao told reporters.
Rao said the diplomat was handed over to the Pakistan High
Commission after he was questioned by Indian authorities and
'there was absolutely no maltreatment'."He has been treated
fully in conformity with the law and there has been absolutely no
transgression of the rules and conventions in this regard,"
she said.
Meanwhile, the FO spokesman in Islamabad also commented on the
statement of the Indian External Ministry on the 15th of this
month regarding Pakistan's reaction to Vajpayee's remarks on
April 12 this year.
It said Vajpayee's anti-Muslims remarks is "self-serving,
hypocritical and evades the issues of the treatment of minorities
in India." In a statement the spokesman said that
"there can be no denying the fact that Vajpayee is a
self-admitted life long member of the reactionary and fascist
RSS. "If Mr Vajpayee has now renounced his membership of the
RSS, we would appreciate hearing him say so," he added.
The spokesman said " it is doubly unfortunate that a fascist
agenda is being pursued under the cover of democracy." He
pointed out that Pakistan is determined to fight extremism and
had banned a number of extremist organizations. "We hope
that the Indian government will also have the courage to
similarly ban Hindu extremist groups like RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal,
Shiv Sena," he added.
The News International, Thursday, April 25,
2002
Pak HC staffer tells tale of
Indian torture
ISLAMABAD: Ali Abbas, a staffer of Pakistan's High Commission in
New Delhi, who was expelled by India on trumped-up charges,
returned here on Wednesday.
Abbas, when arrived at the Islamabad international airport could
hardly walk. He was abducted by the sleuths of Indian
intelligence agencies on April 16 and was severely beaten up. As
a result of torture inflicted upon him, he had been passing blood
in urine.
Pakistan had already rejected Indian allegations against Abbas as
"shoddy attempt to cover up inhuman and uncivilised
behaviour of its intelligence agencies." Narrating his
horrific tale to newsmen, Abbas was visibly shaken and bitter
about the way the Geneva Conventions were blatantly violated so
often by the Indians with regard to treatment of the diplomats
and diplomatic staff.
Abbas, an assistant at the Pakistan's High Commission in New
Delhi, said on April 16 he had gone to Saddar area the Indian
capital for shopping. "Suddenly, a few people got hold of me
and, as I did not have any idea what was happening, I tried to
resist them." He added they eventually grabbed him and
whisked away in a vehicle to some unknown place where some 10 to
12 persons severely tortured him.
"I was forced to make a statement about my involvement in
some kind of activities, not compatible to my duties," Abbas
said, while telling about the way be was subjected to intensive
torture. Abbas said he was pulled on the ground and dragged by
two men with his legs apart. "I was beaten at the groin and
lower abdomen by a number of persons," he added.
The Indian External Affairs Ministry spokeswoman, Nirupama Rao,
claimed the other day that "there's no truth, absolutely no
truth in the allegations that there was torture of this (Ali
Abbas) individual". However, the medical report of a New
Delhi-based hospital, where Abbas was taken immediately after he
was assaulted, said that he received severe thrashing.
According to the report of the "Dr Ved Parakash Kohli
Medical Centre, the patient passed "blood-stained"
urine. He had a "blood clot" in eyes and was running
fever. The medical report confirmed that "there was lot of
tenderness (around) lower abdomen, back.... he had a lot of
tenderness near the testicles."
Abbas said: "Indians have a long history of harassing
Pakistani diplomats and other diplomatic staff. This is totally
against the Geneva Conventions and bilateral agreements signed
between the two countries."
He said: "It has now become a matter of routine that one or
two staff members of the Pakistani High Commission are picked up
by their intelligence operatives and after severe torture, he is
expelled." This was being done by India to detract world
attention from its internal problem and the treatment meted out
to its Muslim population, he said while referring to the Gujrat
violence. "This (Gujrat violence) has exposed the
fundamentalist and extremist posture of the Indian
government."
Abbas said diplomatic staff in India was facing a very difficult
situation as they did not have any protection. "They are
afraid to go out, fearing they might be implicated in false cases
and torture," he added.
Pakistan had strongly condemned the abduction, illegal detention
and torture of Ali Abbas and lodged a strong protest with the
Indian government over the "cowardly, despicable and
provocative action" by Indian intelligence operatives.
The Hindu, Sunday, May 19, 2002
We are for restraint: Pak.
By B. Muralidhar Reddy
ISLAMABAD May 18. Pakistan today struck a non-combatant and
conciliatory response to the decision of the Indian government
asking its High Commissioner in New Delhi, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi,
to leave his post `for the sake of parity'.
While registering its disappointment over the announcement made
by the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, a spokesman of
the Pakistan Foreign Office, in a statement, said Islamabad would
continue to ``work for the de-escalation of tensions'' with
India. He said the country would continue to strive for
``complete normalisation of diplomatic relations''. The spokesman
said that in response to the action announced by New Delhi, the
Pakistan Government has decided to `recall' the High
Commissioner.
Talking to correspondents the Foreign Office spokesman, Aziz
Ahmed Khan, claimed that `restraint and conciliation'
characterised the approach of Islamabad since the December 13
Parliament attack.
He maintained that after New Delhi decided to recall the then
High Commissioner to Pakistan, Vijay K. Nambiar, Pakistan chose
not to reciprocate. ``Pakistan believes in the process of
dialogue and political process for resolution of all differences.
We did not recall Ashraf Jahangir Qazi as Pakistan thought
diplomatic representation at the highest level was needed for
reconciliation of differences''.
Mr. Khan regretted ``the anti-Pakistan tone of the resolution''
adopted by the Indian Parliament on the incident near Jammu. He
said the statements by Indian leaders during the debate and the
contents of the resolution ``betrayed the hostility, which India
nurses for Pakistan''.
He said Pakistan was opposed to terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations. Pakistan neither encouraged terrorism nor had
anything to do with the Jammu incident, he claimed. As a member
of the international coalition against global terrorism, Pakistan
was faithfully fulfilling its obligations under the relevant UN
Security Council resolutions and would continue to do so, he
said. He called upon India to avoid levelling `baseless
allegations' against Pakistan.
Observers here are of the view that the departure of Mr. Qazi
from New Delhi marks a new low in Indo-Pakistan relations.
The former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Tanvir Ahmed Khan, told
The Hindu that ``I feel greatly saddened by the latest
development. The action of the Indian government is
unprecedented. Such a thing did not happen even during the 1971
conflict''. He said it was bold on the part of Mr. Qazi to have
stayed on in New Delhi despite the decision of India to recall
its High Commissioner in December. Mr. Khan was of the view that
Mr. Qazi had made a notable contribution towards improvement in
Indo-Pak ties.
The Pakistan reaction is clearly aimed at impressing the
international community on its `reasonable approach' compared to
the `rigid attitude' of the Vajpayee establishment. Of course it
could also be interpreted as a result of pressure from the world
community, particularly the U.S., not to do any thing that could
only precipitate things. The pressure on the Musharraf regime
from the international community is evident in the latest
statement by Europe's External Relations Commissioner, Chris
Patten, who is expected here next week to impress upon the
Pakistan President for urgent steps to translate his January 12
speech into action.
``I will have great difficulty persuading the European Parliament
to continue support to Pakistan as we would like, if it looks as
though the Government is moving away from what it said about
democracy or the promises it made on dealing with terrorism'',
Mr. Patten has been quoted as saying in an interview to the
Pakistan English daily, Dawn.
The News International, Sunday, May 19,
2002
Islamabad says Ashraf Qazi
being recalled
India expels Pak high commissioner
FO says Delhi's move to heighten tension; parliament
resolution exposes enmity towards Pakistan
By Umer Farooq
ISLAMABAD. Pakistan on Saturday decided to recall its high
commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi from New Delhi after the Indian
government asked for his withdrawal amidst growing military
tensions between the two countries.
Pakistan government has dubbed the Indian decision of asking for
withdrawal of Pakistan high commissioner as an act that would add
to already tense situation between the two countries. The Foreign
Office spokesman said the government of Pakistan has noted with
disappointment the decision of the government of India to ask for
the withdrawal of Pak high commissioner in New Delhi. "The
government of Pakistan will continue to work for the
de-escalation of tension between Pakistan and India and for
complete normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two
countries," Aziz Khan said.
Indian Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh announced the
decision to expel Pak high commissioner after a meeting of
Cabinet Committee on Security. "For the sake of parity of
the relationship between the two countries, the Pakistan high
commissioner is being asked to go back to Islamabad,"
Jaswant said. The Indian government withdrew its high
commissioner from Islamabad after attack on Indian parliament
building in December last year.
Asking for the withdrawal of the high commissioner is
unprecedented in the diplomatic relations between the South Asian
rivals as it has not happened even in the worst times. The Indian
government's decision was preceded by her threatening statements
and unprovoked firing on the civilians on the Line of Control
(LoC), which is still continued unabated.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Foreign Office has regretted the
anti-Pakistan tone of the resolution adopted by the Indian
Parliament on the May 14 incident near Jammu. He said the
statements, during the debate and the contents of the resolution
expose the hostility, which India nurses for Pakistan.
Pakistan was opposed to terrorism in all its forms, and nothing
to do with the Jammu incident, the spokesman said, adding
Pakistan, as a member of the international coalition against
terrorism, is sincerely fulfilling its obligations under the UN
Security Council resolutions and would continue to do so. The
spokesman called upon India to avoid leveling baseless
allegations against Pakistan.
Agencies add: Foreign Office spokesman Aziz said on Pakistan
Television that India's latest move would only heighten tensions
between the two nuclear-capable rivals by hampering communication
between them. "When India decided to recall its high
commissioner in December we did not take a reciprocal action
because Pakistan believes in the dialogue process and we felt
that our diplomatic representation at the highest level should be
maintained so that all issues with India should be resolved
through dialogue and through peaceful means," he said.
"Actions like these add to tensions whereas efforts should
be in reduction of tension."
Meanwhile, India gave a week's time to Qazi to leave the country.
The decision to ask him to leave within a week was communicated
by the joint secretary in the Indian External Affairs Ministry,
Arun Singh, to Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Jalil Abbas
Jilani, who was summoned to the Foreign Office. This was
announced by External Affairs Ministry's spokesperson Nirupama
Rao.
The high-level CCS meeting was also briefed by chiefs of the
Indian army, navy and air force in the 'operations room' of the
defence ministry which is normally used for drawing up military
action plans. A thorough review of the ground situation in
Kashmir was carried out before CCS sat for discussions.
A former Indian foreign secretary, JN Dixit, said Qazi's
expulsion was a 'major step'. "It is a continuum of the
diplomatic pressure that we have been putting on Pakistan since
December," Dixit said. "Sending back the envoy is a
major step. It is to make the point that there was no point in
having high-level diplomatic representation when the state he
represents is indulging in subversive activities in India."
Dixit said other steps which may follow could include the
abrogation of the Indus Water Treaty and economic sanctions
against Pakistan. Most of the rivers which flow into eastern
Pakistan originate from India and water supply to Pakistan's rich
Punjab and Sindh region is controlled by the Indus Water Treaty.
Abrogating that would mean 'starving Punjab'. "However, we
have not been taking this decision as this would hurt the common
man of Pakistan," Dixit said.
The former envoy, however, did not rule out military action as
one of the options but said it was clearly the last option.
"I don't think military action is the only option," he
said. "I think it is the last resort. Getting into a war is
not an easy business. That option is not ruled out but you don't
enter into a war with a knee-jerk reaction."