Pakistan has called its envoy to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi to Islamabad for consultations about raising the issue of India’s “interference†in the country’s affairs at the world body.
The move comes against the backdrop of frosty ties between the two countries after a brief period of warmth when Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony last year.
Consultations are being held “about raising at the world forum the issue of Indian interference in Pakistan’s affairsâ€.
Lodhi’s consultations with the top brass of the foreign ministry will also focus on Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to the UN in September to attend a series of summits and address the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
The daily quoted its sources as saying that the “occasion will be more significant than the usual annual UNGA visits by the Prime Ministerâ€.
Islamabad decided to raise its voice against “Indian actions intended to undermine Pakistan’s securityâ€, a TV news channel reported. Earlier, Pakistan had conveyed its concerns over “Indian involvement in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan,†to the Indian leadership, the report said.
Pakistan was irked by Prime Minister Modi’s remarks during a recent visit to Bangladesh about Pakistan backing terrorism in the region. It had then decided to raise what it described as “India’s interference†in Pakistan’s affairs at various world forums.
India has denied the charges levelled by Pakistan.
Pakistan’s position on the issue is likely to be framed during a meeting in the Foreign Office expected to be chaired by Prime Minister Sharif, who is also the foreign minister. The meeting will be attended by the adviser to the PM on foreign affairs and national security Sartaj Aziz, special assistant to the PM on foreign affairs Tariq Fatemi and foreign secretary Azaz Ahmed Chaudhry.
