No Gas, No Water: Pakistan Blocks Basic Amenities For Indian Diplomats In Islamabad

India and Pakistan's relationship has been strained since the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 people were killed.

A news report now claims that in response to its military setbacks and other political developments, Pakistan is now engaging in what is being called "petty retaliation" against Indian diplomats and their families in Islamabad, according to a report in Economic Times.

As per the article, this retaliation, allegedly orchestrated by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), includes targeted restrictions on basic services for Indian High Commission employees. These actions are reportedly in breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Specific instances of this alleged harassment mentioned in the report include:

Gas Supply: Gas supply to the Indian High Commission has been intentionally cut off, and local vendors have been instructed not to sell gas cylinders to Indian personnel.

Water Supply: Vendors have been prohibited from supplying mineral water and clean drinking water to the High Commission, forcing staff to rely on unsafe tap water.

Newspaper Delivery: Newspaper suppliers have been ordered to stop delivering publications to the mission, which is seen as an attempt to restrict the flow of information to the staff.

The report links these actions to recent events, including India's suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and the "Operation Sindoor" military operation. These developments, along with the 2019 Pulwama attack and subsequent Balakot airstrikes, have reportedly caused new tensions and brought high-level bilateral discussions to a halt. The article concludes that these acts are a continuation of a long-standing Pakistani policy of using unconventional pressure tactics instead of direct negotiations.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir has warned India of "nuclear war" if his country faces an existential threat in future, ThePrint reported.

"We are a nuclear nation, if we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us," Field Marshal Asim Munir said at a dinner hosted by businessman Adnan Asad in Tampa in the US.

Munir also threatened India of destroying dams if it constructs on the Indus water channels. "We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir 10 missile sey faarigh kar dengey [we will destroy it with 10 missiles]...The Indus River is not the Indians' family property. Humein missilon ki kami nahin hai, al-hamdulillah [we have no shortage of missiles, Praise be to God]," Munir reportedly stated.