Pakistan summons Indian Deputy High Commissioner, expresses concern over attack on its diplomat

Islamabad: Pakistan today summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Baglay to lodge a protest over the assault on one of its diplomats in New Delhi on Monday.

Zirgham Raza, the first secretary of Pakistan's High Commission in India, was allegedly roughed up after his car hit a motorcycle in Ber Sarai in south Delhi.

Mr Baglay was called today to raise "serious concerns" over the incident, Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement. He was informed "such incidents are uncalled for, unnecessary and do not augur well for the overall bilateral relations".

"Government of Pakistan calls upon government of India to ensure that such incidents do not recur," statement added.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai spoke to his Pakistani counterpart today, assuring that any security concern that Islamabad may have involving its diplomatic staff in the country will be addressed. He also said action had already been taken, with the police making arrests in the case.

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The government has also said that police had responded promptly and extended due courtesies to the Pakistani diplomat.

"Police responded promptly to calls for assistance and escorted the diplomat to safety from the crowd of onlookers who had gathered at the site of incident.

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"The police extended the Pakistan High Commission officials due courtesies and escorted them to the AIIMS trauma centre and offered medical assistance and examination," official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The Pakistan High Commission had lodged a strong protest with the MEA over the issue on Monday after the diplomat alleged that a group of 10-15 people had slapped him after the accident.

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Sources in the MEA, however, told NDTV that there were no damages and no one was hurt.