India Expels Second Pakistani Diplomat Amid Soaring Bilateral Tensions

Pakistani High Commission Official Declared Persona Non Grata

India on May 21, 2025, expelled yet another official from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, declaring him persona non grata for allegedly engaging in activities “incompatible with his diplomatic status.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated the official was involved in behavior violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and asked him to leave India within 24 hours.

The Pakistani official has been served an ultimatum to leave India within 24 hours.Image Source : PTI | IndiaTV

This is the second such expulsion in just over a week, signaling a further deterioration in diplomatic ties between the two South Asian neighbors. The MEA summoned the Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan to formally lodge a protest and issue a demarche.

Background: Second Expulsion in Eight Days

This latest development follows the expulsion of another Pakistani diplomat on May 13, 2025. That individual, identified as Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, was reportedly linked to a spy ring and accused of recruiting Indian citizens for espionage activities. He too was ordered to leave India within 24 hours.

According to an NDTV report, Indian authorities claimed to possess credible evidence linking the diplomat to intelligence operations, and his presence in the country was deemed detrimental to national security.

Retaliation from Pakistan: Tit-for-Tat Diplomacy

In a retaliatory move, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad declared an Indian official from the High Commission in Pakistan as persona non grata on May 21, 2025. Pakistan alleged that the Indian diplomat had violated diplomatic protocol and was engaged in conduct incompatible with their privileged status. The expelled Indian official was also directed to exit the country within 24 hours.

Escalating Tensions Since the Pahalgam Attack

The diplomatic row is unfolding against a backdrop of heightened tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. That attack, which killed 26 civilians—25 of them Indian nationals—has been blamed by India on Pakistan-based terror outfits.

In response, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” a series of military strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC). Additionally, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and scaled down diplomatic missions on both sides.

Security experts believe these retaliatory actions, coupled with the expulsion of diplomats, point to a chilling of already strained ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Conclusion: Fragile Diplomacy Amid Crisis

With two Pakistani officials expelled within a span of eight days and reciprocal action from Pakistan, the diplomatic standoff appears to be intensifying. The back-to-back expulsions, combined with military and political countermeasures, mark one of the lowest points in India-Pakistan relations in recent years.

While both nations have called for adherence to international diplomatic norms, the ongoing tit-for-tat measures raise concerns about further escalation. Observers emphasize the urgent need for backchannel dialogue and confidence-building measures to prevent the crisis from spiraling further.

(Sources: NDTV, IndiaTV, Indian Express, AP News)