Pakistan has expelled a staffer of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad in response to India’s expulsion of a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi on charges of espionage.
The Indian Chargé d’Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be informed of Pakistan’s decision to expel the Indian staffer. This move comes after India declared the Pakistani official as “persona non grata” for engaging in activities not in line with his official status and gave him 24 hours to leave the country.
This is the second such expulsion in a week, as tensions between India and Pakistan have been on the rise following the Pahalgam attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals. India responded with precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7, prompting retaliatory attempts by Pakistan on May 8, 9, and 10.
After talks between the directors general of military operations from both sides on May 10, an understanding was reached to halt military actions. However, the diplomatic fallout continues as both countries expel each other’s officials stationed at their respective high commissions.
The Pakistani Foreign Office emphasized that diplomats and staff members of the Indian High Commission should not misuse their privileges and status in any way. The ongoing tit-for-tat expulsions highlight the strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
