Pakistan to expel Indian HC official as diplomatic row worsens

By
OTHERS
|

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday declared Indian diplomatic official Surjeet Singh persona non grata (PNG) hours after India expelled a Pakistan embassy staffer over espionage allegations.

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.

“The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms,” the official press release stated.

Pakistan summons Indian HC over detention, manhandling of diplomatic official

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 persona non grata (PNG).

The Foreign office earlier issued a statement condemning the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ actions.

The Foreign Office rejected Indian allegations and deplored the Indian action, terming it a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as norms of diplomatic conduct, especially in an already vitiated atmosphere.  

‘We condemn the detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official,’ the statement said.  

The statement further said Pakistan High Commission has always been working within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms. This act clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission. 

According to the Foreign Office, Indian attempts to escalate tensions and divert international attention from the grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir can never succeed. Pakistan urges the international community to take notice of the Indian designs.

On Thursday, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, Abdul Basit was called by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to convey the decision of the Indian government that one of the staff members Akhtar Mehmood of the High Commission had been declared persona non grata and should leave India by October 29.

The staff member was picked up by Indian authorities on October 26 on false and unsubstantiated charges. He was released in about three hours after the intervention of the Pakistan High Commission.

According to reports in the Indian media, Akhtar Mehmood was accused of obtaining Indian defence documents. Mehmood was released as he is entitled to diplomatic immunity; however India has asked him to leave the country in 48 hours. 

Pakistan High Commissioner protests arrest staff member

A strong protest was registered by Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit over the arrest of the staff member. Basit met the Indian Foreign Secretary after he was summoned at the Foreign Office.

"Detention of the Pakistani diplomat is violation of the Vienna Convention," Abdul Basit said.

He asked the Indian Foreign Secretary to ensure that in future such incidents are not repeated as he refuted allegations that the Pakistani diplomat had obtained secret defence documents.

"A Pakistani diplomat cannot be involved in activity which against diplomatic ethics," he said.