India to expel Pakistan embassy staffer for 'spying'

NEW DELHI -  India will expel a Pakistani high commission staff member for “espionage activities”, a foreign ministry official said Thursday, after local media reported that New Delhi police had detained him.

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 in a tweet.

https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/791522934384758784

The Delhi Police on Thursday  detained Pakistan High Commission officer allegedly for espionage.

According to reports of Indian media,the official was on Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit's staff and was in possession of highly classified army-related documents.

The man held for espionage is identified as 35-year-old Mohammed Akhtar. The Intelligence Bureau had reportedly tailed him for a week.

Pakistani envoy Basit has been summoned by the external affairs ministry. Police have sent the report on the high commission staffer to the external affairs ministry. Crime branch officials have also briefed the Union home minister and Delhi's Lieutenant Governor.

Meanwhile, Pakistani foreign office is yet to respond to the latest incident that could fuel the fire of frayed relations between the two nuclear neighbours.