India protests Pak's denial of consular access to detained boat crew

India protests Pak's denial of consular access to detained boat crew
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, AUG 28: India has protested the denial by Pakistan of consular access to its shipwrecked crew, which was rescued by a Pakistani fishing boat on June 30, and charged Islamabad with displaying an ``inhumane'' attitude.

Pakistani High Commission officials, when contacted by The Indian Express, however, pointed out that ``formalities (to give the required access) were being completed and that consular access would be provided in due course''.

The officials did not say why it had taken as long as two months to complete formalities, only saying that there were as many as 200 Pakistani fishermen who may have strayed into Indian waters and that New Delhi was denying similar access.

According to a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs, an Indian boat called Jan Kalyan had sunk into the Arabian Sea on June 25 and the 11 Indian crew members had been rescued by a Pakistani fishing boat.

He said that New Delhi had immediately expressed its ``deep appreciation'' to Islamabad on being informed of the incident on July 6, as well as of the fact that some of the injured crew had been hospitalised, and sought consular access.

So far, the access had not been accorded, the spokesman claimed, adding: ``The continued detention of the crew members in Pakistani custody and the denial, as yet, of consular access displays an inhumane attitude.''