NEW DELHI: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) office in the Indian capital was vandalised by Hindu extremists, reported the state radio.
The activists reportedly broke windows and computers at the office. A PIA spokesman told Radio Pakistan that the staff is safe. The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has contacted the Indian government and has asked for a probe into the incident and sufficient security for PIA offices. Security personnel reached the site and assessed the damage. A PIA statement has said that the national carrier’s operations will continue until instructions are received from the government. Flight operations will not be suspended nor will the staff be called back, it said.
The incident comes at a time when foreign secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India, scheduled for this month, stand threatened after an attack on an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot earlier this month. India alleges the Pathankot attackers came from Pakistan and were associated with the militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad. India also said it has passed on information to Pakistan and expects decisive action against the extremist elements behind the air base attack. Pakistan, on its part, has said it will cooperate with India and effectively act on intelligence. A statement from PM Nawaz’s office said arrests had been made and that a team comprising top Pakistani officials will also be sent to Pathankot for further investigations.
Spokesman of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi Manzoor Memon has said that all the staffers of PIA office in New Delhi were safe and sound. “We have lodged a protest with the Indian authorities over this incident and asked them to ensure the safety of Pakistani officials and further beef up security,” Memon told a private news channel from New Delhi. He said the Pakistani High Commission has called upon the Indian government to immediately arrest the culprits and give them severe punishment. The spokesman said the attackers damaged the computers and smashed the windows of PIA’s office. He said the Pakistani High Commission has informed Indian Foreign Ministry about the incident. To a question, Manzoor Memon said PIA’s Station Manager Saeed Khan and a diplomat were reviewing the situation.
In an online statement PIA said an angry mob, raising anti-Pakistan slogans attacked its office and damaged computers and property. Police was called at the site. According to the spokesperson the reservation system of the airline is not working as the mob had broken the computer and equipment inside the office. It is uncertain now if the national flag carrier would be able to operate flights from New Delhi for the time being, the spokesperson said. PIA has two town offices in India, the other one is located in Mumbai.
DAILY TIMES.
YEMI.
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