Tensions between India and Pakistan flared once again on Wednesday after the Indian government expelled yet another Pakistani diplomat, ordering him to leave the country within 24 hours.
According to official sources, the Indian authorities declared Muzammil, a diplomat posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for allegedly engaging in activities inconsistent with his diplomatic status. Muzammil, who served in the visa section, was instructed to depart India within a day.
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Earlier the same day, the Pakistani chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, where a formal démarche was issued. “The chargé d’affaires of the Pakistan High Commission was summoned and handed a démarche. He was asked to ensure that no Pakistani diplomat or official misuses their privileges or status while in India,” the Indian ministry stated.
This follows a similar incident on May 13, when India expelled another Pakistani official, Rahim, a visa assistant at the Pakistani High Commission. He too was declared persona non grata.
Since the Pahalgam incident, India has expelled a total of 24 Pakistani diplomatic staff.
In the aftermath of the deadly April 23 attack in India-occupied Kashmir, India escalated its measures by ordering all Pakistani nationals to leave the country within 48 hours and announcing the closure of the Attari check post.
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The entire Pakistani High Commission staff was instructed to return home within seven days. Visas for Pakistani diplomats and defense attachés were either restricted or revoked, and several officials were asked to leave immediately. One attaché was also declared persona non grata, according to the Indian foreign ministry.
In an official statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs revealed that the Cabinet Committee on Security had decided to reduce the Pakistani High Commission’s staff strength from 55 to 30, a move set to take effect by May 1.