M A I N   N E W S

Pak expels four Indian staffers

Islamabad, January 23
Pakistan today expelled three Indian diplomats and an official from its High Commission in an expected tit-for-tat response to the expulsion of its officials by New Delhi.

A Pakistan Foreign Ministry statement ordered the four to leave within 48 hours and said they had been declared “persona non grata” for involvement in activities incompatible with their status — diplomatic code for spying.

The Pakistan Foreign Ministry said three diplomats and a staffer of the Indian High Commission had been asked to leave the country within 48 hours as they were engaged in “activities that were incompatible with their official status”.

India’s Acting High Commissioner Sudhir Vyas was summoned to the Foreign Office and told about the expulsions, as per a PTI report from New Delhi.

Those expelled were Mr Vipin Handa, Counsellor, Mr R.P. Singh, Second Secretary, Mr Vakil Ramdas, Attache, and Mr P. Sundaram, staffer.

All four expelled officials were in the visa sections of the High Commission. While they had to leave within 48 hours their families had to leave within seven days.

India yesterday ordered four staffers of the Pakistan High Commission, including two diplomats, to leave the country within 48 hours for indulging in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status. Reuters