Amid increasing tensions between India and Pakistan, reports have emerged that the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria's application for membership to the elite 'Islamabad Club' has been put 'on hold'.
Some media reports cited "security concerns" as the reason for this hold. This is the first time that an Indian envoy's application has been put on hold.
It normally takes only days to process such applications. Ajay Bisaria who took over in December 2017 had applied soon after his arrival. But, the Indian mission in Islamabad has still not heard from the Club authorities.
The Islamabad Club, according to reports, has denied the reports saying that they await "political clearance" and that the request was under process.
"The club needs NOC (No Objection Certificate) by the Ministry of Interior to grant membership." said an official of the club according to a Pakistani Daily. "We have not denied Bisaria's request... It is a routine matter," the official added.
The club has not approved the Indian envoy's membership so far and is reportedly threatening to not renew the membership of other Indian diplomats as well to a place where all foreign diplomats and envoys go to hang out and network.
This 346-acre exclusive club is next to the diplomatic enclave, a highly secure zone so "security concerns" for just one diplomat cannot be the reason for such delay when diplomats of all countries including US, UK, EU often frequent the club.