India expelled another official from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday, marking the second such action in just over a week. The official was ordered to leave the country within 24 hours for allegedly engaging in activities “not in keeping with his official status.”
This move comes in the backdrop of rising tensions between India and Pakistan following India's military strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), and the resulting military standoff.
In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared the Pakistani staffer “persona non grata,” stating that his actions were inconsistent with the duties expected of a diplomatic representative. While the MEA did not disclose the specific allegations, it confirmed that the individual must depart from India within a day. The Indian government also issued a formal demarche to Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi, warning that Pakistani diplomats must not misuse their privileges or diplomatic immunity in any manner while posted in India.
This is the second expulsion of a Pakistani official within eight days. On May 13, another Pakistani diplomat was expelled over alleged espionage. That expulsion was reportedly linked to a case under investigation by the Punjab Police, who had arrested two individuals — including a woman — on May 11 for suspected spying in coordination with a Pakistani High Commission official.
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In retaliation, Pakistan expelled a staffer from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, accusing the individual of engaging in activities “incompatible” with his diplomatic role. Like India’s directive, Islamabad also ordered the Indian official to leave the country within 24 hours.
These diplomatic tit-for-tat actions are unfolding in the context of Operation Sindoor, an Indian military operation launched on the night of May 6-7. In that operation, Indian forces targeted and dismantled nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. This action was in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, where 26 Indian tourists were killed — one of the most deadly attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing. The Resistance Front, a proxy group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack.
Operation Sindoor triggered heightened bilateral tensions and a series of strikes and counter-strikes between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Although both nations agreed to cease all military activity across land, sea, and air effective 5 p.m. on May 10, Pakistan reportedly violated the truce just hours after it came into force.
As diplomatic expulsions and military confrontations continue, the situation remains tense with both nations maintaining a firm stance on national security and sovereignty.
Also Read: India expels Pak diplomat, asked to leave country within 24 hrs
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