Shiv S. Mukherjee 
Minister (Press, Information & Culture) 
Embassy of India 
(202) 939-7042 
 

 The Pakistan High Commissioner was summoned this afternoon by Foreign
 Secretary and a strong protest was lodged regarding a serious incident in which Shri
 B.S. Rawat, an official of our High Commission in Islamabad was, early this
 morning, accosted and badly beaten up in front of his diplomatic residence
 purportedly by a security guard of a neighbouring house. The antecedents of this
 individual have not been confirmed. Shri Rawat received serious injuries and has
 been hospitalised. 

 Foreign Secretary told the High Commissioner that India took very grave note of
 this incident which had very disturbing connotations and was entirely unacceptable.
 This abnormal incident reflects the inadequate security being provided to our
 Mission officials despite repeated demarches made by us in the past. Foreign
 Secretary reiterated that the Government of Pakistan should take all steps to ensure
 the security and safety of our Mission personnel and to stop their harassment at the
 hands of the intelligence agencies of Pakistan. 

 New Delhi
 May 31, 1998