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Indian embassy official abducted in Islamabad

Less than 24 hours after New Delhi's expulsion of a Pakistan high commission official on charges of espionage, an Indian high commission official in Islamabad was abducted and brutally beaten up by intelligence agents.

A spokesman for the external affairs ministry said in New Delhi that N R Doraiswamy, a staff member of the mission, was pulled out of his official car in front of his house by 10 intelligence agents and badly beaten. He has suffered severe bruises.

The Indian government has lodged a strong protest with Islamabad, stating that the act was in complete violation of the Vienna Convention and the bilateral India-Pakistan code of conduct for treatment of diplomats.

Pakistani High Commissioner for India Qazi Ashraf Jehangir was summoned to the external affairs ministry by Nareshwar Dayal, secretary (east), and told to ensure Doraiswamy's immediate and safe return.

"The high commissioner was told that Doraiswamy's well-being is Pakistan's responsibility," the spokesman said.

Giving details, he said Doraiswamy's driver and a security guard of the mission, who were also in the car, tried to prevent the abduction, but were manhandled and pushed aside by the intelligence operatives.

Doraiswamy was released shortly before noon today.

This is not the first time an Indian high commission official has been physically attacked in Islamabad.

UNI

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