January 20, 2003	Monday	Ziqa'ad 16, 1423

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NEW DELHI, Jan 19: India on Sunday accused Pakistan of harassing its top diplomat in Islamabad amid reports that New Delhi was not contemplating easing its standoff with Islamabad any time soon.

An Indian foreign ministry spokesman said New Delhi took serious note of harassment of India’s Charge d’Affaires in Pakistan Sudhir Vyas.

“We have received reports of tailing and harassment of Vyas,” spokesman Navtej Sarna was quoted by Press trust of India as saying. “This is part of a pattern of harassment of Indian diplomats followed by Pakistan agencies”, he claimed.

“This is in violation of bilateral code of conduct, international norms as well as the Vienna Convention,” Sarna said.

PTI asserted Pakistan intelligence officials on Saturday blocked the vehicle carrying Vyas, who is currently holding the charge in the absence of a regular High Commissioner, several times at a number of places in Islamabad while he was on his way to attend official engagements.

Vyas was travelling in his official vehicle, flying the Indian flag, when was first stopped right at the gates of his residence when he was on his way to attend a function at the Malaysian High Commission, PTI said.

In a separate interview with junior foreign minister Digvijay Singh, the news agency quoted him as saying India would consider a recent suggestion by a Sri Lankan envoy that future Saarc summits should be held in Kathmandu.

“India is open to a suggestion of holding Saarc summits on a regular basis in Kathmandu, where its Secretariat is located, on the lines of United Nations but made it clear that any decision on this has to be through consensus of the seven-member grouping,” PTI said.

“Any decision in this regard has to be taken by consensus. We will support any move that will strengthen Saarc,” Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh said.

Singh, however, said no such proposal had formally come from any of the Saarc countries but the idea was put across by former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar during his recent visit here.

Asked about the prospects of resumption of India-Pakistan dialogue, Singh said unless Islamabad puts a permanent end to “cross-border terrorism” in Jammu and Kashmir and helps create a conducive atmosphere, no meaningful dialogue was possible.

PTI said Singh also ruled out restoration of bus and rail links with Pakistan, snapped after the attack on Parliament in December 2001, till “cross-border terrorism” was stopped by Islamabad.