Pakistan Orders Indian Diplomat to Leave Within 24 Hours
News Desk
Islamabad: Pakistan has declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as persona non grata, accusing the official of engaging in activities that violated diplomatic norms and were inconsistent with his privileged status.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Indian diplomat has been ordered to leave the country within 24 hours. The Indian Chargé d’Affaires was summoned to the Foreign Office on Wednesday, where the decision was formally conveyed.
During the meeting, Pakistani officials underscored that all diplomats and staff at the Indian High Commission must strictly adhere to their diplomatic roles and refrain from any misuse of privileges granted under international conventions.
This move comes in direct response to India’s earlier decision to expel a diplomat from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on similar charges. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had also declared the Pakistani official persona non grata, ordering his departure within 24 hours.
The diplomatic expulsions follow a series of rapidly escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Tensions soared after a deadly attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians at a tourist site.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, New Delhi suspended a longstanding water-sharing treaty, sealed the main land border crossing with Pakistan, and expelled several Pakistani military, naval, and air advisers posted in New Delhi. Additionally, India revoked visa privileges for Pakistani nationals.
Islamabad retaliated by expelling Indian diplomats and military personnel, cancelling all Indian visas—excluding those for Sikh pilgrims—and closing its side of the border crossing.
The situation deteriorated further on the night of May 6–7, when Indian forces launched unprovoked attacks on Pakistani territory, targeting mosques and residential areas, resulting in the deaths of over 50 Pakistani civilians.
In response, Pakistan initiated a large-scale retaliatory military operation on May 10, dubbed “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos”, targeting multiple Indian military installations across various sectors.
After 87 hours of intense hostilities, a ceasefire agreement was brokered by the United States, bringing the short but deadly conflict to an end.
A Pakistan Ranger stands guard before the start of a parade at the Pakistan-India joint check post at Wagah border, near Lahore, on May 4, 2025. — Reuters
