India removes security barricades outside Pakistan High Commission in Delhi

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): India has taken another significant step in response to Pakistan by removing the outer security cordon installed outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Traffic barricades and concrete bollards placed on the road as part of the security arrangements around the diplomatic premises have also been removed, clearing the passage outside the mission.

Videos from outside the Pakistan High Commission show that the outer fencing-like security structure surrounding the premises has been removed. Officials have also taken away traffic bollards and barricades that were earlier used to regulate movement in the area. Some of the external security arrangements restricting movement around the Pakistani mission have also been dismantled.

India's move comes around three days after Pakistan removed security barricades and parking poles outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Following that action, similar security arrangements outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were removed.

Indian officials said on Thursday that some structures and barriers installed for managing movement outside the Pakistan High Commission had been removed. These barriers had been placed near the visa section of the Pakistani mission. According to officials, the structures were located in a lane outside the approved boundary of the High Commission, which led to the decision to remove them.

Relations between India and Pakistan have remained tense for a long time. Against this backdrop, changes to security arrangements outside the two countries' diplomatic missions are being viewed as a significant diplomatic development.

The latest development comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries following the terror attack in Pahalgam last year. The attack killed 26 people, and India blamed Pakistan-backed terrorists for the incident. India's decision to remove the security cordon outside the Pakistan High Commission is being viewed as a response to Islamabad's recent action outside the Indian High Commission.