New Delhi: India on February 21 rejected as "completely untrue" Pakistan's allegations that its intelligence agencies had blocked entry to all visitors and visa-seekers at the Pakistan High Commission.

"These allegations as well as allegations of what they call 'harassment' have been investigated and found to be completely untrue and this was conveyed to an official of the Pakistan High Commission yesterday," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said when asked about Islamabad's charge.

"Clearly all these allegations are only a red herring to detract from the harassment and surveillance of Indian officials which is routinely carried out by Pakistani agencies in full public view," he said.

On February 19, the Pakistan mission in New Delhi had complained to External Affairs Ministry over what it alleged "continued and unabated harassment" of its staff and their wives even during their shopping sprees.

The Indian mission in Islamabad has been lodging protests with Pakistan Foreign Office over harassment of its officials. Three protests have been lodged over harassment of military advisor Brig R K Karwal by Pakistani intelligence agencies.

Diplomatic tensions between the two sides continue despite issuance of visas to senior diplomats to take over as Deputy High Commissioners. While T C A Raghavan will move to Islamabad in this post, Munnawar Saeed Bhatti will assume charge at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

PTI