Centre advices diplomats in Pakistan to send their kids abroad or back to India
New Delhi: The Indian government has declared Pakistan a ‘No School-Going Mission’, directing staff members of the Indian High Commission (IHC) to withdraw their children from schools there and send them back to India.
Under the "No School-Going Mission," diplomatic staff is not allowed to stay with their school-going children. However, their spouses are allowed to stay.
The announcement came after a government's review of staffing and related policies for their diplomatic missions as also prevailing circumstances at the station.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "It is a normal practice for all countries to review staffing and related policies for their diplomatic missions, including in view of prevailing circumstances at those stations.
"With effect from this academic session, officials posted in the High Commission of India in Islamabad have been advised to make arrangements for education of their wards outside Pakistan, till further notice."
The decision was taken as India is concerned about the security of their young nationals after the Army Public School attack in Peshawar in December 2014.
Another reason cited was the restriction on the free movement of the Indian students. Whenever a school administration plans a trip outside Islamabad, Indian students have to seek prior approval from the Pakistani Foreign Office.
This decision would compel many staffers of the IHC, in Islamabad, to return to India for the sake of the education of their children. In case they wish to continue to serve the IHC, they must send their children back to India.
Sources said the IHC had already communicated the decision to Pakistan's Foreign Office and the school authorities.
Both the Foreign Office and the school authorities had reportedly requested the Indian government to review the decision, but New Delhi is said to have refused.
After the decision, Pakistani diplomats fear it would further strain relations between the two neighbours.
