Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday expelled a staff member of the Indian High Commission. The move comes soon after India expelled a Pakistani Embassy official on charges of espionage. India had expelled the staffer on Wednesday and just a day later, Pakistan resorted to a tit-for-tat kind of move. From India’s side this was the second expulsion in a week.
Indian Embassy official to leave Pakistan in 24 hours
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was quoted by PTI as saying that the Indian staff member at the Pakistan Embassy had been declared, “persona non grata”. He has been given 24 hours to leave the country. Pakistan has accused him of indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status.
Earlier on May 13, India had expelled another Pakistani Embassy staffer, for allegedly being involved in espionage.
Following the expulsion of the Indian staff member, Pakistan’s Foreign Office released a statement which read, “Government of Pakistan has declared a staff member of the High Commission of India, Islamabad, as persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his privileged status. The concerned official has been directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours.”
The Indian Chargé d’Affaires conveyed Pakistan’s decision to the MEA. According to the statement, none of the staff members should misuse their privileges and status.
Relations between India and Pakistan went downhill, soon after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The April 22 attack left 26 people dead, 25 of whom were tourists. The attack by Pakistan-based terrorists drew a strong counter response from India. Soon after the attack, India vowed to avenge the death of its nationals.
India responded by attacking the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’. India claimed to have terror infrastructure of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hijbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Altogether 9 terror camps were destroyed.
