ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Pakistan on Saturday lodged a strong protest with the Indian government over what it termed the illegal detention and manhandling of its High Commission’s driver in New Delhi.

“The government of Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with the Indian government over the illegal detention and manhandling of Mohammad Farooq, a driver of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, by the Indian security personnel,” the Foreign Office said in a statement issued here.

“The harassment of Pakistani official is a violation of international conventions as well as diplomatic norms,” it said.

The protest was lodged by Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi Mr Afrasiab with the head of Pakistan desk at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Mr Dilip Sinha on Saturday morning.

The Pakistan High Commission driver was detained by the Indian security personnel on Friday for about five hours and released after midnight.—Q.A.

Reuters adds: Indian police have arrested a man working for the army in New Delhi as he allegedly handed classified military documents to a Pakistani official.

Asenior police officer said on Saturday that Anil Kumar Dubey, who police said worked in the army’s insurance directorate, was detained on Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar said.

“He was arrested yesterday evening for passing secret documents to an official from the Pakistani High Commission,” Kumar said.

A police statement said Dubey had been “collecting information regarding the movement and deployment of the Indian army and transmitting sensitive and secret information regarding the Indian army to a hostile foreign agent”.

It identified Mohammad Farooq as an agent of ISI posted at the country’s mission in New Delhi.

Farooq was caught accepting secret defence documents and computer CDs from Dubey in New Delhi, the statement said, something it alleged had been going on for ‘four or five months’ in return for money.