India expels officials from Pakistan High Commission
By IAR Desk
India on Sunday, May 31, expelled two officials from the Pakistani High Commission on charges of espionage.
In a late evening release India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced that “Two officials of the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi were apprehended today by Indian law enforcement authorities for indulging in espionage activities..”
The officials were declared “persona non grata” by India “for indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission and asked them to leave the country within twenty four hours,” the Ministry said, without divulging the names of the two officials.
Pakistan’s Charge de Affaires was issued a demarche in which a strong protest was lodged with regard to the activities of these officials of the High Commission of Pakistan against India’s national security. He was also asked to ensure that no member of its diplomatic mission should indulge in activities inimical to India or behave in a manner incompatible with their diplomatic status.
In a statement released soon after the Pakistani Foreign Office “condemned” the Government of India’s decision to declare two officials of the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi persona non grata requiring them to leave India within 24 hours.”
