India downgrades Pak to ‘non-school-going station’

As relations with Pakistan worsen, India on Monday advised its diplomats and officials posted in its High Commission in Islamabad to avoid sending their children to school over there. This makes Pakistan for them a “non-school-going station.”

The announcement follows a government review of staffing and related policies for their diplomatic missions.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “It is a normal practice for all countries to review staffing and related policies for their diplomatic missions, including in view of prevailing circumstances at those stations. With effect from this academic session, officials posted in the High Commission of India in Islamabad have been advised to make arrangements for education of their wards outside Pakistan, till further notice.”

There are about 50 school-going children of Indian officials posted in Islamabad.

The unrest in Kashmir, triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, has cast its shadow over the ties between India and Pakistan. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently praised Wani. He went on to say, “Kashmir will one day become Pakistan.”

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj responded firmly, asserting that Sharif’s dream of Kashmir becoming a part of Pakistan “will not be realized even at the end of eternity.