Pakistan asks Indian HC official to leave country till Oct 29

ISLAMABAD – Only hours after India expelled a Pakistan embassy staffer over espionage allegations, Islamabad declared Indian diplomatic official Surjeet Singh Persona Non Grata (PNG).

According to Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria, Surjeet Singh was asked to leave over violation of Vienna Convention and diplomatic etiquettes.

The Indian diplomatic official has been asked to leave along with family members till Oct 29, the Spokesman added.

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The Foreign Office also summoned Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale and protested against Indian action of declaring a Pakistan High Commission staff member as PNG.

Earlier, Indian arrested Pakistan High Commission officer Mohammed Akhtar allegedly for espionage, and released only after few hours’ detention.

Akhtar has been working with the Pakistan High Commission in India for the past three years. Police suspect an insider of leaking information, plans and strategy papers to Akhtar.

Pakistani ambassador to India Abdul Basit was summoned by the external affairs ministry to inform him that a Pakistan High Commission staffed has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, Spokesperson of Indian Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarap said.