Pakistan expels another Indian High Commission staffer

ISLAMABAD: Declaring another Indian High Commission staffer as persona non grata, Pakistan has expelled the diplomat asking him to leave the country within 24 hours, the second such expulsion in this month.

The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday summoned Charge d’Affaires Geetika Srivastava and handed her a protest demarche.

According to a statement released by the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Thursday, Indian Charge d’Affaires Geetika Srivastava was summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A letter of protest was handed over to the Indian Charge d’Affaires, and was instructed to prevent Indian diplomatic personnel from being involved in negative activities.”

The statement further said “An official of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan was declared persona non grata. The Indian official was found to be involved in activities contrary to his diplomatic status. The said Indian official was ordered to leave Pakistan within 24 hours.”

Indian Charge d’Affaires Geetika Srivastava.

A day earlier, India had also expelled a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on charges of involvement in espionage.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the staffer at the Pakistan mission has been declared “persona non grata” for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status and that he has been given 24 hours to leave India.

On May 13, India expelled another Pakistani official for allegedly indulging in espionage.

Following India’s action, Pakistan had also expelled an Indian staffer posted at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

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Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated after the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives. Following which India carried out missile attacks on civilian targets in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir on May 7, following which Pakistan destroyed multiple targets including several Indian jet fighter planes in its retaliation.

A panicked India then requested the US to intervene a arranged a ceasefire with Pakistan.

The hostilities ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10.