ISLAMABD – Official of the Indian High Commission, Surjeet Singh, who was asked to leave the country left Pakistan to return to India on Friday night, it has been learnt.
Earlier this week, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry had summoned the Indian High Commissioner to convey the decision of the Government of Pakistan to declare Surjeet Singh as persona non-grata.
Aizaz had expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and established diplomatic norms.
The decision to expel Surjeet Singh had come a few hours after India decided to expel a Pakistani high commission staff member, Mehmood Akhtar, for alleged “espionage activities”.
The Indian foreign secretary had summoned Pakistani ambassador to India Abdul Basit to inform him that a Pakistan High Commission staffer has been declared persona non-grata for espionage activities.
Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit strongly protested with Indian Foreign Secretary at the detention and manhandling of Pakistan High Commission staff,a spokesperson of the Pakistan High commission in Delhi said at the time.
The high commissioner also said the detention contravened the 1961 Vienna Convention, Dawn News reported.
Related: India to expel Pakistan embassy staffer for ‘spying’
The expulsion of HC staffer could further fuel the fire of hatred among the nuclear neighbors who traded barbs ever since India alleged Pakistan of involvement in Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead.
Pakistan categorically gainsaid the allegations however the frayed relations are still marring the hope of bilateral dialogue between the arch-rivals.
