India and Pakistan Diplomats Given 24-Hour Notice to Leave

On Tuesday, Pakistan declared an Indian high commission staff member in Islamabad as "persona non grata" for engaging in activities deemed "incompatible" with his privileged status. This action follows India's recent expulsion of a staff member from the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi, linked to two individuals from Punjab arrested this week on espionage charges, according to sources familiar with the situation.

A Pakistani Ranger stands guard during the 'Beating Retreat' ceremony at the border gates of Pakistan and India at the Wagah border post.(AFP file)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, directing the concerned official to leave Pakistan within 24 hours.

"The Government of Pakistan has declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, as persona non grata for engaging in activities incompatible with his privileged status," it said.

It was also mentioned that the Indian charge d’affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday for a formal protest, where this decision was communicated.

Pakistani Mission Official Ordered to Leave India Within 24 Hours

A statement from India's Ministry of External Affairs revealed that the Indian government had declared a Pakistani mission staff member "persona non grata" due to involvement in activities incompatible with his official status in India. The statement did not elaborate on the details.

The individual was instructed to leave the country within 24 hours, and Saad Warraich, the Charge d'Affaires at the Pakistani High Commission, was handed a demarche, a formal diplomatic protest.

On May 11, Punjab Police reported the arrest of two individuals allegedly connected to espionage activities involving a Pakistani national stationed at the High Commission in New Delhi.

Acting on reliable intelligence, Punjab Police initially detained one man for sharing sensitive information about Indian Army movements with a handler based in Pakistan. Further investigation led to the identification and detention of a second individual, according to Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav.

The investigation uncovered that the two suspects had been receiving payments through online transactions for classified data. They were frequently in contact with the Pakistan-based handler and were allegedly involved in channeling funds to other local operatives, following the handler's instructions.

The day after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed 26 civilian lives, India announced a range of punitive diplomatic and economic measures against Pakistan. These included expelling three defense attaches from the Pakistani High Commission and reducing the number of diplomatic staff in both capitals from 55 to 30.

(Source: Hindustan Times, NDTV)