India Asks Pak To Reduce Its High Commission by 50%

In a strong diplomatic offensive, the government on Tuesday decided to reduce

the staff of Pakistan's High Commission in

India by 50%, in view of their espionage activities and links with terror groups.

India will reciprocally reduce its own presence in Islamabad to the same proportion.

The decision is to be implemented in seven

days. The move comes after two Indian High

Commission officials in Islamabad were

abducted on gunpoint and tortured by

Pakistani security agencies.

The behaviour of Pakistan and its officials is not in conformity with the Vienna Convention and the bilateral agreements on the treatment of diplomatic and consular officials, the government said.