In the wake of the February 13 attack on its car, the Israel embassy today requested the government to replace the blue-and-white “CD (diplomatic corps) number plates” in its official vehicles — in Delhi and its consulate in Mumbai — with local white-and-black plates.
Israeli envoy Alon Ushpiz and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna met today, their first meeting since the attack happened. Taking the CD plates off, the envoy said, will allow the embassy vehicles to “blend in” with local vehicles.
In fact, Ushpiz drove to Krishna’s official residence in a vehicle with a non-CD Delhi registration plate. Incidentally, Indian High Commission vehicles in Pakistan also use local number plates to avoid being targeted.
Sources said the Israeli side has also asked for additional security for its embassy personnel in Delhi and Mumbai and security agencies have been asked to make requisite arrangements.
A four-member forensics team from Israel is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow.
After meeting Ushpiz, Krishna also met the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia. While details of the meeting is not known, it is being seen as an effort to pile up pressure on India over Iran.
Meanwhile, New Delhi continued to be cautious. To counter speculation of an “Iranian hand”, as alleged by Israel, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Syed Akbaruddin, said: “We have no information or evidence of any country, organisation, entity and individual being involved.” Sources said “so far” they had found nothing to connect Iran to the attack.
--Agencies
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