NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has stepped up security for the Pakistani High Commissioner to the country after he received an email threatening him, officials said on Monday, amid tensions between the two neighbours over the Mumbai attacks.
A Pakistan High Commission official in New Delhi said the email, received about 10 days ago, threatened the envoy, Shahid Malik, would be killed if he did not immediately leave India.
"We told Indian authorities and our High Commissioner's security has been increased," Shah Zaman Khan, the high commission's press minister, told Reuters. "Whether it was prank or whatever, the matter had to be reported."
An Indian government official said security for Malik had been raised and, though the email seemed like a mischief, it was nevertheless being investigated.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals have risen since the November attacks in Mumbai that killed 179 people, and which India blames on Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group.
India has mounted a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan, saying it was not doing enough to crack down on militant groups on its soil. It also wants some 40 suspects, including those it says planned the Mumbai attack, extradited from Pakistan.
The lengthy email, written in English, was sent on behalf of a group calling itself the All-India Anti-Terrorism Group. It said Pakistan was linked to the Mumbai raids.
"If the threat is taken lightly, it is 200 percent sure the envoy will be killed," the letter said.
Despite the tension, the chances of military confrontation between the old foes, who have fought three wars since 1947, is low thanks in part to the diplomacy of the United States and other powers, analysts say.
India has provided Pakistan data from satellite phones used by the attackers and what it describes as the confession of the sole surviving gunman.
Islamabad, which denies any state involvement in the attacks, has said it would look at the information India had provided.
We Know its not BR or other PDF. Thats why we are here! We are here coz the forum is logical as a whole! God Speed.
and we expect same from all the other Indian Members as well.
