Diplomatic staff at Pakistan’s High Commission in India are reporting a series of incidents they describe as harassment, with several envoys receiving sudden eviction notices and essential services being disrupted.

According to officials familiar with the matter, at least four Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi have been told to vacate their rented homes before their lease terms expire. Sources say the affected diplomats are under constant surveillance, while utilities such as gas and internet are being intermittently cut off.

Visa Extensions Left Hanging

The problems extend beyond housing and utilities. Islamabad says visa renewals for 17 staff members, including diplomats, have been awaiting clearance from India’s Ministry of External Affairs for months. Requests for these extensions were reportedly submitted between three and five months ago, but no approvals have been issued.

High Commission Left Without Water

Tensions have also reached the Pakistani High Commission itself, where water supply was recently shut off. The delivery of Indian newspapers to the mission has been suspended for more than six weeks, further limiting the diplomatic outpost’s access to local media. Pakistani officials say these developments have been formally communicated to Islamabad’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Backdrop of Military Escalation

The alleged harassment comes in the aftermath of one of the most serious military flare-ups between the two countries in years. In May, India launched cross-border strikes into Pakistan, claiming to target militants linked to the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan retaliated with Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, downing six Indian fighter jets — three of them Rafales — and carrying out its own strikes. The 87-hour conflict resulted in the deaths of 40 civilians and 13 military personnel in Pakistan, according to official figures.

Disputes Spill Over to Water Sharing

Relations further soured when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old agreement governing water distribution between the two nations. However, the Permanent Court of Arbitration recently ruled that India must allow the western rivers to flow for Pakistan’s unrestricted use, in line with the treaty’s original terms.