Pak calls for ensuring safety of its diplomats

he police had to use water cannons to disperse the protesters

Rattled by the protests outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi,a worried Islamabad Wednesday asked Delhi to ensure safety and security of Pakistans diplomats,and to beef up the protection of Pakistan envoy Salman Bashir.

It is learnt that Pakistan Foreign Ministrys Director General (South Asia) Rifat Masood called in Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Baglay Wednesday and expressed concern at the protests outside the Pakistan High Commission premises. The police had to use water cannons to disperse the protesters,who were agitating against Tuesdays killing of five soldiers at the Line of Control (LoC).

The Pakistan High Commission decided to close the mission for the next four days from August 8 to 11 essentially advancing its Eid holidays,after careful consideration,sources said.

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Security outside the Pakistan High Commissioners residence at Tilak Marg has been beefed up,sources said.

Amid outrage over the LoC killings,Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani sent a congratulatory message to Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and appreciated her desire to pick up the threads of the bilateral dialogue process from where it was left off.