The ongoing India demonetization of Indian currency of higher denominations like Rs 500 and Rs 1000 has not only caused problems for the Indian people but also triggered a diplomatic row between India and Pakistan with Indian banks refusing to encash their dollar cheques.
According to Indian newspaper The Hindu, Pakistani High Commission has lodged a formal protest with the Ministry of External Affairs.
A senior Pakistan High Commission official said that Islamabad would be forced to take similar steps against the Indian mission in Islamabad, unless remedial measures are taken to help Pakistani diplomats posted in Delhi.
“We are finding it difficult to perform our duties as the bank where we conduct our transactions has been refusing to let us withdraw cash. This is an unprecedented challenge as the bank is declining our legitimate requests to withdraw our own money,” said the Pakistan diplomat.
“We have sent a note verbale [note of protest] regarding the issue and hope that MEA will not force us take a similar step against the Indian mission,” the diplomat added.
“The concerned bank [in South Delhi] has been denying to issue us money from our own account saying that it can’t let us withdraw cash, which is an addition to the hardships we are facing because of the demonetisation,” said the Pakistan official.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged the receipt of note verbale from the Pakistan High Commission and said, “We have discussed the issue and will look into the complaint of the Pakistan High Commission.”
The official said that the Pakistani diplomats remain entitled to their salaries and the problem was likely to be resolved.
Diplomats have borne the brunt of the downturn in bilateral ties between India and Pakistan. In the last week of October,
India expelled a Pakistan diplomat charging him of espionage. This triggered a series of tit-for-tat expulsions
