India on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for abducting and torturing two of its high commission officials in egregious violation of international conventions on diplomatic relations and bilateral treaties signed by the two countries.

Two Indian High Commission staffers in Pakistan were forcibly kidnapped and held captive by Pakistani security agencies and released only after an illegal custody for more than 10 hours on Monday. The officials were released only after strong intervention by the High Commission of India in Islamabad and the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the government said that Pakistani security agencies had interrogated, tortured and physically assaulted the two Indian officials, causing them grievous injuries.

The officials were video-graphed and coerced to accept a litany of fictitious allegations and concocted charges, the government said, adding that the vehicle of the High Commission, in which they were travelling, was extensively damaged.

"This premeditated, grave and provocative action on the part of the Pakistani authorities, preceded by intensified surveillance, harassment and intimidation of High Commission personnel over the past several days, was designed to obstruct and disrupt the normal functioning of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. The attempt by Pakistani authorities to levy false accusations and concocted charges on the officials of the High Commission is rejected in entirety," the government said.

These actions by Pakistan, the government said, constitute an egregious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 as also the 'Code of Conduct for treatment of Diplomatic or Consular personnel in India and Pakistan' signed in 1992 and reaffirmed by both sides in March 2018. Such actions were also against all established norms and practices of diplomatic conduct, the statement said.

The government also summoned the Charge d' Affaires (CDA) of the High Commission of Pakistan, Haider Shah, on Tuesday to lodge a strong protest against the abduction and torture of the two officials in Islamabad by Pakistani security agencies. New Delhi also strongly condemned and deplored the action of the Pakistani authorities.

New Delhi conveyed its grave concerns to the CDA about the fact that the Pakistan agencies threatened to physically harm more officials of the Indian Mission. The government told the CDA that Pakistan is responsible for the safety and security of the Indian High Commission, its officials, staff members, their families and properties.

"Such continued unilateral actions by Pakistan, aimed at escalating tensions, will not succeed in diverting attention from the core issue of Pakistan's continued hostile activities and sponsorship of cross-border terrorism against India," the statement said (IANS)

The Pakistan Foreign Office has categorically rejected Indian MEA's statement on the involvement of Indian High Commission officials in the "hit-and-run" incident and possession of fake currency. Pakistan directed its ire at the 'baseless allegations' made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in the matter relating to the involvement of Indian High Commission officials in a "hit-and-run" incident and possession of fake currency. It went on to say that the MEA's statement was a reprehensible attempt to distort facts and deny the culpability of these officials in criminal offences.

 Pakistan claimed that two officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Dwimu Brahma and Selvadas Paul, were over-speeding and crashed their car into a pedestrian on Monday. The pedestrian was seriously injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. The officials attempted to flee from the scene; however, some passersby who witnessed the incident stopped them from fleeing and informed the Police. The police rushed to the scene and took the officials to the police station.

During the course of investigation, Pakistan claimed that fake currency was also recovered from the afore-mentioned officials. After it was confirmed that the said officials were from the Indian High Commission, they were released and handed over to a senior diplomat from the Indian High Commission.

It added, "The senior Indian diplomat was reminded that possession of fake currency and 'hit-and-run' after an incident are serious offences. Such illegal actions and reckless conduct by the officials of the Indian High Commission are against the law and established diplomatic norms. He was also reminded of the Indian High Commission's obligations to ensure that its members did not engage in illegal activities and adhered to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961."

According to the Pakistan foreign office: "The Indian MEA's litany of baseless allegations is yet another attempt to malign Pakistan and a part of desperate efforts to divert attention from India's state-terrorism in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IoJ&K). The BJP government must realise that its irresponsible policies and unilateral actions are increasingly imperiling peace and security in the region. India must act responsibly in the interest of regional peace and stability."