NEW DELHI: India today [April 26] banned all Pakistani diplomats from leaving the country without prior permission of the Indian Govern­ment. The Indian ban, which also applies to the families and domestic servants of Pakistani diplomats, went into effect at 1230 GMT.... A note handed to the Pakistan High Commission said this action had been taken because of restrictions imposed on Indian diplomats in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Indian Deputy High Commission in Dacca ceased to function from 1200 hours today.... This was the deadline fixed ... when Pakistan Government announced its decision on April 23 to wind up its Deputy High Commission in Calcutta. The spokesman said that Pakistan held India entirely responsible for the closure of the Indian Mission in Dacca and Pakistani Deputy High Commission in Calcutta as the Indian authorities failed to provide necessary facilities in Calcutta to the ... Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr Mehdi Masud.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Laho­­re,] Six leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party in Punjab ... denied the existence of any rift in the party over the issue of Chief Ministership....

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2021