India expels two Pakistan High Commission officials on espionage charges

The two officials have been declared persona non grata

india-pakistan-flag-reuters Representational image | Reuters

Two officials of the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi were apprehended today by Indian law enforcement authorities for indulging in espionage activities.

According to a press release by the government,  both these officials have been declared persona non grata for "indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission". They have been asked to leave the country within 24 hours. 

The two officials, Abid Hussain and Muhammad Tahir, were caught by police while obtaining sensitive documents relating to Indian security establishment from an Indian national in exchange of money, official sources told PTI.

The officials, working at the visa section of the Pakistan High Commission, confessed during the interrogation that they worked for Pakistani spy agency ISI, according to the sources, who added that they were caught handing over Indian money and an iPhone in exchange for documents.

The officials initially claimed that they were Indian nationals and even produced fake Aadhaar cards, the sources said. 

Pakistan’s Charge de Affaires was issued a demarche in which a strong protest was lodged with regard to the activities of these officials of the High Commission of Pakistan against India’s national security. Pakistan's Cd’A was asked to ensure that no member of its diplomatic mission should indulge in activities inimical to India or behave in a manner incompatible with their diplomatic status.

In 2019, after India announced the decision to abrogate the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan expelled the Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and downgraded its diplomatic ties with India.

With inputs from PTI