Hours after Pakistan decided to call back its envoy to India, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday clarified that the Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood has been called for "consultation" only, and it was a routine procedure.


"Whenever there is any issue to be discussed, any foreign ambassador of that country is called for consultation. It is not a recall," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said during a press briefing.


The development has taken place after missions of both the countries complained of alleged harassment of its diplomats in the two countries.


Kumar said the issue of alleged harassment of Indian diplomats has been raised and taken up with the authorities in Islamabad.


"We will not give details of the issue which we have taken up with the Pakistan government. This is something which should be taken up through established diplomatic channels and not published in media. We expect them to look into and resolve those issues as soon as possible," the spokesperson stated. -- ANI