Pakistan recalls envoy; it's normal, says India on diplomats harassment row

Diplomats of both India and Pakistan have alleged harassment in Islamabad and New Delhi, respectively

The India-Pakistan ties witnessed a new crisis on Thursday as Pakistan called back its High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood for consultation over "harassment" of its diplomatic staff and their families in New Delhi.

India, however, has downplayed Pakistan's move as "normal and routine". External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: "It is pretty normal for an Ambassador or a High Commissioner in any country -- for example the resident Ambassadors and High Commissioners who are in India -- to go back to their capital to hold consultations with the foreign office."

"This is pretty routine in nature," Kumar said.

Pakistan claimed