The naming of Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires in a POTA case pertaining to funding of separatists in Jammu and Kashmir has not gone down well with some key officials in the ministry of external affairs.
This incident comes less than a month after the two sides expelled senior diplomats and India's Charge d'Affaires Sudhir Vyas was harassed by Pakistani intelligence sleuths.
Also, it is no secret that the Hurriyat receives funds from Pakistan.
Given these circumstances, the officials said, the Delhi police's action of arresting two Hurriyat leaders for receiving money from the Pakistan high commission, and more important naming its Charge d'Affaires Jaleel Abbas Gilani in the case, was 'reckless'.
Over the past few months, India had been able to develop robust relations with several Western nations, especially the United States. These nations have agreed that there is no need for Pakistan to crop up in bilateral discussions.
This latest development could invite retaliation and, officials fear, 'bring Pakistan back into these bilateral discussions, especially in the case of the US'.
The MEA was unaware of the police's plans to pick up the Hurriyat leaders.
But officials are certain Delhi police's Special Cell, headed by Joint Commissioner of Police Neeraj Kumar, would not have gone ahead with the arrests without the blessings of the political bosses at the Union ministry of home affairs.
How else, they ask, could a relatively junior level police officer name the senior most Pakistani diplomat in a POTA case on national television.
On Friday, unlike its usual ebullient self on issues concerning Pakistan, the MEA adopted a cautious approach.
After keeping mediapersons waiting for over two hours, a spokesman was only ready to say that the mater was under consideration.
In fact, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani is expected to bring up the issue of the MEA's reluctance to go along with the home ministry's aggressive stand when he meets External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha to discuss the future course of action in this case.
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