Pakistan blocks gas, water to Indian Diplomats; India may retaliate

New Delhi: India is planning retaliatory measures against Pakistani diplomats following hurdles faced by the Indian diplomats in Islamabad over gas and water supplies.

There has been an intensification of surveillance by the Pakistani authorities against the Indian diplomats, both at their residences and offices in Islamabad. Reports have also surfaced that Indian diplomats are facing hurdles over gas and water supplies akin to measures imposed after the cross-border strikes in 2019.

Newspaper deliveries to the Indian High Commission and residences of Indian diplomats in Islamabad were stopped in June. Subsequently, India stopped newspaper supplies to Pakistani diplomats here.

Meanwhile, the ministry of external affairs on Monday slammed Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff field marshal Asim Munir over his reported threat to use nuclear weapons in a future war between the two countries, calling it an example of "nuclear sabre-rattling", while asserting that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail and will take all steps necessary to safeguard national security.

The MEA, in a statement, said that such remarks reinforced doubts about the integrity of Pakistan's nuclear command and control, particularly in a country where the military is "hand-in-glove with terrorist groups".

"Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," the external affairs ministry said. "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups."

The ministry also said, in a message to the US, that it was "regrettable" that the remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country.

Munir had reportedly said while addressing the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa, Florida, that Pakistan would use nuclear weapons if it faced an existential threat in a future war with India.