In the wake of the espionage episode, Islamabad on Wednesday pulled out six of its High Commission officials posted in New Delhi, even as India summoned Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah to protest ceasefire violations and civilians’ death amid heightened tensions along the border.
The diplomats and their families left by a Pakistan International Airlines flight after their names were given out by the Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar, who was caught red-handed by Delhi Police exchanging crucial documents, and declared persona non grata by the Indian Government.
According to information, among the Pakistani diplomats who have left are Commercial Counsellor Syed Furrukh Habib, and First Secretaries Khadim Hussain, Mudassir Cheema and Shahid Iqbal.
Media reports from Pakistan claimed Islamabad may ask Indian Commercial Counsellor Rajesh Agnihotri and Press Counsellor Balbir Singh working in the Indian High Commission to leave, though there was no official word from the Government there.
The Ministry of External Affairs said it has no knowledge of any such expulsions. However, after Pakistan made public names of eight Indian diplomats accusing them of being Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) undercover agents, India will have to eventually withdraw them in view of their safety concerns.
In retaliation to the expulsion of Akhtar, Pakistan had last week declared Surjeet Singh, a staffer at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, persona non grata.
Meanwhile, India on Wednesday summoned Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah to protest against the ceasefire violations and civilian deaths.
“He was conveyed the Government’s grave concern and strong protest at the recent escalation in the incidents of ceasefire violations by the Pakistan side at the line of Control (loC) and the International Border (IB), which have resulted in several fatalities and injuries on the Indian side among civilians and security forces personnel. The Government also registered its strong protest on the mutilation of the body of an Indian soldier by a terrorist who escaped across the loC after committing the heinous crime. The Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan was conveyed the Government’s expectation that Pakistan will not take any step inimical to peace along the loC and the IB and to the security of India,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.