New Delhi: A section of structures outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was demolished on Thursday after authorities found them to be beyond the diplomatic mission’s approved boundary. The move comes just three days after Pakistani authorities removed protective security barricades outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, adding to the latest round of diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours.
Officials said the operation was carried out by the concerned civic agencies using a JCB machine. Barricades, traffic bollards and queue management structures installed along the lane outside the High Commission, particularly near the visa section, were dismantled during the drive.
Visuals from the site showed piles of rubble, twisted metal frames, broken railings and chunks of concrete scattered outside the compound. Sections of corrugated roofing and white metal fencing were completely pulled down, while construction material and damaged fencing lay near the service counters. Parts of the outer facade around the visa windows also appeared to have suffered minor damage, with broken plaster and masonry visible.
The main High Commission building remained untouched. Its entrance, featuring white walls, domed architectural elements and large metal gates bearing Pakistan’s national emblem, was intact. Barbed wire fencing along portions of the perimeter also remained in place.
The development follows a similar action in Islamabad, where authorities recently dismantled the external security barricades surrounding the Indian High Commission. While neither side has officially described the moves as retaliatory, the timing has fueled speculation of a tit for tat diplomatic response.
The latest episode also comes amid heightened diplomatic friction after Pakistan protested remarks made by the United States ambassador to India during a visit to Srinagar. The envoy described Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India and praised the region’s improved security situation, prompting Pakistan to summon the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad to register its objections.
There has been no official confirmation linking Thursday’s demolition in New Delhi to those diplomatic developments.
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