Pak orders Indian diplomat to leave within 24 hours after espionage allegations

UPDATED: May 14, 2025 04:18 IST

Pakistan on Tuesday declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad persona non grata, citing activities it deemed incompatible with his diplomatic status.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the official has been ordered 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," the statement said.

It also added that the Indian Charge d’Affaires was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday for a dmarche, conveying this decision.

Earlier, India expelled a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi for allegedly indulging in espionage.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the official was indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India and that he had been given 24 hours to leave the country.

"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. The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge d’ Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today," the MEA statement read.

The tit-for-tat expulsions come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after New Delhi conducted Operation Sindoor to destroy nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK) in response to the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people.

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