India Defends Removal of Structures Outside Pakistan High Commission as ‘Proportionate Response’
NEW DELHI: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has characterized the recent demolition of temporary structures outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi as a "proportionate response" to similar actions taken by Islamabad against the Indian mission in Pakistan.
During a bi-weekly press briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the flurry of activity observed near the Pakistani diplomatic compound on Thursday. Authorities were seen dismantling traffic bollards, barricades, and various temporary structures that had long served as security and queue-management installations outside the mission.
A Tit-for-Tat Escalation
Jaiswal explained that the move was not an isolated incident but rather a reciprocal measure. According to the spokesperson, Pakistan had previously removed structures located in front of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to facilitate parking, despite formal requests from New Delhi to maintain the status quo.
"In Pakistan, some of the structures in front of the Indian High Commission were removed to facilitate parking. Despite our request not to do so, they went ahead with the removal," Jaiswal stated. "We then took proportionate response in kind. There were some temporary structures in the lane of the Pakistani High Commission, which we removed."
Scars of Demolition
The scene outside the Pakistan High Commission on Thursday presented a stark image of the diplomatic friction. Following the demolition, the area was left covered in rubble, including twisted metal frames, broken iron railings, roofing sheets, and debris from demolished masonry.
Footage from the site showed that the demolition had impacted the vicinity of the mission’s visa service windows. While the signage for "Window 1 (Pakistani Passport Only)" and "Window 5 (Collection of Visa Applications)" remained visible, the surrounding infrastructure—including white metal fencing and corrugated roofing—had been largely razed. Portions of the plaster and exterior walls near the visa counters were noticeably damaged, leaving construction debris scattered across the paved entrance.
The removal of these structures marks another chapter in the strained diplomatic relations between the two neighboring nations, where minor logistical or infrastructural adjustments at diplomatic missions are often closely monitored and frequently met with reciprocal measures.
