India, Pakistan agree to resolve diplomats' treatment row

India and Pakistan have mutually agreed to address complaints of harassment of diplomats following the 1992 'Code of Conduct' on treatment of diplomats.

The two neighbouring countries also agreed to resolve all issues through talks regarding treatment of their diplomats stationed in the other country.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Pakistan Foreign Office came up with the announcement through separate statements on Friday, report Indian and Pakistan's news agencies.

"India and Pakistan have mutually agreed to resolve matters related to the treatment of diplomats and diplomatic premises, in line with the 1992 "Code of Conduct for the treatment of diplomatic/consular personnel in India and Pakistan," India's MEA said

Meanwhile, Pakistan's FO spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said the matter will be addressed under the Code, which provides for "smooth and unhindered functioning" of the diplomatic and consular officials of the two countries.

The two sides began accusing each other of harassing and ill-treating diplomats early this month, taking bilateral ties to a fresh low and adding to tensions.

Pakistan has previously claimed that there had been as many as 26 instances of harassment and intimidation of its diplomats since March 7.

Geo News aid, Pakistan's foreign office on March 13 shared that the officers and families of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were facing harassment, intimidation and ‘outright violence’ from the Indian state agencies.

The statement said that the “deliberate bullying” is not confined to a single isolated event, but continues unabated in a series of incidents targeting the families of the officers.

Following the instances of harassment, Islamabad called back its high commissioner Sohail Mahmood for discussions on the issue. He returned to New Delhi on March 22.

Countering these allegations, New Delhi said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was facing "tremendous harassment", according to Times of India.

On several occasions, Indian diplomats had to deal with unauthorised entry into their premises and also random interception of their cars.