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Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan expels staff member of Indian high commission in tit-for-tat move
New Delhi: Pakistan on Thursday responded to India's expulsion of a staffer of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi on charges of involvement in espionage by expelling a staff member of the Indian mission in Islamabad. These were the second tit-for-tat expulsions in a little more than a week amid heightened tensions between the two countries. Both countries had expelled a staffer each from their missions in each other's capitals on May 13. On Wednesday evening, the Indian government declared a staffer of the Pakistan high commission 'persona non grata' after he was found to be involved in spying, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Pakistan responded at about 2.30 am IST by expelling a staff member of the Indian high commission in Islamabad. A statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry said the government declared the staff member 'persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his privileged status'. The Indian staff member was directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours. The Indian chargé d'affaires was called to the foreign ministry to convey the decision. 'It was stressed that none of the diplomats or staff members of the Indian high commission should misuse their privileges and status in any manner,' the foreign ministry said. India too had asked the staffer of the Pakistani mission to leave the country within 24 hours, and the Pakistani chargé d'affaires, Saad Warraich, was issued a demarche on the matter. Warraich was 'asked to strictly ensure that none of the Pakistani diplomats or officials in India misuse their privileges and status'. At least 12 people from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been arrested over the past fortnight over alleged involvement with a Pakistan-linked espionage ring. Punjab Police announced on May 11 that they had arrested two persons for alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani national posted at the high commission in New Delhi. A day after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 that killed 26 civilians, India announced a slew of punitive diplomatic and economic measures against Pakistan, including the expulsion of the three defence attaches posted at the high commission and the whittling down of the total number of diplomatic staff posted in each other's capitals from 55 to 30. Tensions between the two countries spiked after India targeted terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan on May 7 under Operation Sindoor. After four days of intense armed clashes, the two sides reached an understanding on stopping firing and military action on May 10.
Scroll.in
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
India declares another Pakistani High Commission official persona non grata
India on Wednesday declared an official working at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata for allegedly 'engaging in activities inconsistent with his diplomatic role'. India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the official had been asked to leave the country within 24 hours. The ministry did not identify the official. This is the second such expulsion in a week. In diplomatic parlance, an official declared persona non-grata is deemed unwelcome by the host country. Pakistan retaliated on Thursday by directing an official at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to leave the country within 24 hours. This marked the second expulsion by Pakistan within a week. The Indian external affairs ministry said on Wednesday that Saad Warraich, the chargé d'affaires of the Pakistani High Commission, was issued a démarche, or a diplomatic protest, and instructed to ensure that no Pakistani diplomat or official in India misused their privileges or status. Following Pakistan's downgrade of diplomatic ties with India in August 2019 over New Delhi's decision to abrogate the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, both countries' diplomatic missions have been led by chargés d'affaires instead of the high commissioners. With the expulsion on Wednesday, the operational staff at the Pakistani High Commission has reduced to 28, The Indian Express reported. On May 13, New Delhi had expelled an official of the Pakistani High Commission on similar grounds. The expelled Pakistani officials were allegedly connected to people who were recently arrested in Punjab and Haryana including a travel vlogger, who have been accused of spying for Pakistani intelligence agencies, The Indian Express quoted unidentified government officials as saying. On May 10, India and Pakistan reached an 'understanding' to halt firing following a four-day conflict. Tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad had escalated on May 7 when the Indian military carried out strikes – codenamed Operation Sindoor – on what it claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes were in response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 persons on April 22. The Pakistan Army retaliated to Indian strikes by repeatedly shelling Indian villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. At least 22 Indian civilians and eight defence personnel were killed. India and Pakistan have fired tit-for-tat diplomatic salvoes at each other following the terror attack, such as suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and bilateral trade, cancelling visas and expelling diplomats. A day after the Pahalgam attack, India had declared Pakistan's defence, military, naval and air advisers in New Delhi persona non grata and said it would withdraw its defence advisers from Islamabad.
The Print
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
In 2nd case this month, India declares another Pakistan High Commission staffer persona non grata
'The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India,' an MEA statement said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Wednesday summoned Charge d'Affaires Saad Warraich of the Pakistan High Commission and issued a formal demarche. Warraich was instructed to ensure that all Pakistani diplomats and officials adhere strictly to diplomatic norms and do not misuse their privileges. New Delhi: India declared a Pakistani staffer posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi as persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country within 24 hours for his alleged involvement in activities inconsistent with diplomatic status. This incident follows a similar expulsion on 13 May, when another Pakistani staffer, identified as Danish, was removed for allegedly engaging in espionage. Danish was reportedly linked to two individuals arrested in Punjab earlier this month for espionage. According to Punjab Police, the suspects had been leaking sensitive information about Indian Army movements to a Pakistan-based handler in exchange for payments made through online channels. In a 11 May statement, the Punjab Police confirmed that an First Information Report (FIR) had been registered, and efforts were underway to uncover a broader network of local operatives. Authorities described the operation as a key step in dismantling cross-border espionage and reaffirmed their commitment to national security. Investigations will focus on tracking the financial transactions and identifying further links within the network. This incident follows an earlier series of diplomatic reductions after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India expelling Pakistani defence officials and downsizing the High Commission staff from 55 to 30. In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan responded by cutting back Indian diplomatic presence in Islamabad. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: As India downgrades diplomatic ties with Pakistan, here's how their foreign missions are staffed
News18
14-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Chinese Min Meets Pakistan Envoy As India Expels Islamabad Staffer Over ‘Spying', Blocks Xi's Media
Amid continuing tensions, the Indian foreign ministry has declared an official of the Pakistan High Commission 'persona non grata' over alleged espionage. The decision concerning the official, who was not named by either side, was conveyed to Pakistan Charge d'Affaires Saad Warraich, the Indian foreign ministry Pakistani embassy staffer was issued a demarche, asking him to leave India within 24 hours, The Hindu expelled Pakistani staffer was linked to two people arrested in India's Punjab state for 'espionage activities', The Hindu reported, citing sources. The regional police in India's Punjab had over the weekend held them for 'leaking sensitive information regarding Indian Army movements' to in a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan also declared an Indian High Commission staff member persona non grata. Islamabad identified the Indian staffer as Shankar Reddy Chintala and accused him of 'engaging in activities incompatible with his privileged status.' The Pakistan Foreign Office said that the concerned official has been directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION3:14 INDIA-PAK MILITARY LEVEL-TALKS4:22 INDIA-CHINA TENSIONS GROW AS DUST ON PAK CONFLICT SETTLES5:52 'MODI'S DAYS ARE NUMBERED'7:00 TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON CLAIM HE BROKERED INDO-PAK TRUCE More from world India's Strategic Shift: Ceasefire and New Alliances in the Face of Terrorism | India Pakistan News Trump Meets Al-Sharaa In Saudi After Lifting Sanctions On Syria, Urges Abraham Accords With Israel 'Good Cover, Close To…' Why Pakistan Raced To Build Kirana Hills Nuclear Site Post-India's Pokhran-1 60 Dead as IDF Bombs 'Tunnel Under Hospital' to Kill Hamas' Sinwar, US Not Informed, Macron "Angry" trending news 'Don't Talk Like That': Rhea Chakraborty Blasts At Gautam Gulati In Roadies XX Ananya Panday Shares Adorable Photos With Sister Rysa, Fans Call Them 'Cute' 'Wheeling Misconstrued As Bravado By Youth': Karnataka HC Urges Legal Reform To Curb Rising Menace Cristiano Ronaldo A Proud Father As Son Wears Portugal Colours For First Time latest news
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Why India, Pakistan diplomats asked to leave within 24 hours
Pakistan on Tuesday declared a staff member of the Indian high commission in Islamabad "persona non grata" for engaging in activities what it called 'incompatible' with his privileged status. Pakistan's move comes soon after India expelled a staffer of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi for his alleged links with two people from Punjab who were arrested this week on charges of involvement in espionage, people familiar with the matter said. A statement issued by the ministry of foreign affairs also that the concerned official has been directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours. Also Read | India expels Pakistan high commission staffer for alleged links to espionage "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 added that the Indian charge d'affaires was called to the ministry of foreign affairs on Tuesday for a démarche, conveying this decision. A statement from the external affairs ministry said the Indian government had declared the staffer of the Pakistani mission 'persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India'. The statement did not give further details of the matter. The staffer was told to leave India within 24 hours, and the charge d'affaires of the Pakistan high commission, Saad Warraich, was issued a demarche or a formal diplomatic protest on this issue, the statement said. Punjab Police announced on May 11 that they arrested two persons for alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani national posted at the high commission in New Delhi. Acting on credible intelligence, Punjab Police initially arrested a man for providing 'sensitive information' on the Indian Army's movements to a Pakistan-based handler, said director general of police Gaurav Yadav. Based on disclosures made by this man, a second person was identified and taken into custody, Yadav said. An investigation revealed the two persons allegedly received payments through online transactions for the classified information. They were in frequent contact with the Pakistan-based handler and allegedly involved in channeling funds to other local operatives on the handler's instructions, Yadav said. A day after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 that killed 26 civilians, India announced a slew of punitive diplomatic and economic measures against Pakistan, including the expulsion of the three defence attaches posted at the Pakistan high commission and the whittling down of the total number of diplomatic staff posted in each other's capitals from 55 to 30.
