Pakistan has sought clarification from the Indian government in reference to a “public notice” jointly issued by the University Grants Commission of India and the All India Council for Technical Education regarding the pursuance of higher education here.

“All concerned are advised not to travel to Pakistan for pursuing higher education, any Indian national/Overseas Citizen of India who intends to take admission in any degree college/educational institution of Pakistan shall not be eligible for seeking employment or higher studies in India on the basis of such educational qualifications (in any subject) acquired in Pakistan,” read the notice issued on Friday.

Reacting to the development, the Foreign Office on Monday issued a statement and said the country reserved the right to take appropriate measures in response to such an “openly discriminatory and inexplicable action” by India.

“The tone of the ‘public notice’ is not only threatening towards the students it also reeks of tyrannical authoritarianism. It is regrettable that driven by its incurable obsession with Pakistan, the Government of India is unabashedly coercing the students in order to deter them from pursuing quality education of their choice,” read the FO statement.

It added that the contents of the public notice have further exposed the BJP-RSS combine’s “deep-seated ideological animus and chronic hostility” towards Pakistan. “It is deplorable that as part of its mission ‘Hindu Rashtra,’ the Indian government has resorted to such moves in order to stoke hyper-nationalism in the country,” it read.

The Foreign Office said that Pakistan reserved the right to take appropriate measures in response to this action by India.