MEA explains why Pak mission barricades removed

• India removes security barricades outside Pakistan High Commission
• The MEA calls the move a proportionate response to Islamabad's actions
• The removal follows Pakistan removing Indian mission structures

A day after authorities dismantled the external security perimeter outside the Pakistan High Commission, removing traffic bollards and barricades that

previously ring-fenced the diplomatic compound, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday clarified that the move was a tit-for-tat, proportionate response to Islamabad removing structures outside the Indian mission despite New Delhi’s objections. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said some structures in front of the Indian High Commission had been removed to facilitate parking, despite India’s request that they remain in place. In response, India removed temporary structures placed in the lane outside the Pakistan High Commission. "In Pakistan, some of the structures in front of the Indian High Commission were removed to facilitate parking. Despite our request not to do so, they went ahead with the removal. We then took proportionate action in response. There were some temporary structures in the lane of the Pakistani High Commission, which we removed," Jaiswal said.

Diplomatic tensions between India and Paksitan

The decisive move by local authorities in New Delhi unfold amidst a diplomatic stand-off between the South Asian nations following the unprovoked attack by Pakistan backs terrorists in Pahlgam last year that killed 26 people.

The Pakistani-backed Pahalgam terror attack was followed by a strong counter action by India. Demonstrating strong military resolve, India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation to strike terror infrastructure, with active military exchanges continuing until May 10, when a desperate Pakistan was forced to seek a ceasefire.

Exposing Pakistan's shrinking international leverage in the region, United States Ambassador Sergio Gor, during a high-profile visit to Srinagar on Wednesday, explicitly acknowledged Jammu and Kashmir as an "important part of India". Affirming the ground reality and highlighting massive security gains made by Indian authorities, the statement, coming from the first US envoy to visit the region in six years, triggered a defensive reaction from Pakistan, which quickly summoned the senior-most American diplomat in Islamabad to lodge its objections.

(With agency inputs)