India Declares Pakistani Official Persona Non Grata Amid Espionage Allegations
Significant Diplomatic Move by India
New Delhi: On Tuesday, the Indian government announced that a Pakistani official at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has been declared persona non grata due to actions inconsistent with his diplomatic role, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The MEA's brief statement confirmed, "The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India. The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge dā Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today."
Earlier, Punjab Police reported a significant breakthrough, having arrested two suspects linked to espionage activities involving the aforementioned Pakistani official.
According to the Director General of Punjab Police, Gaurav Yadav, one suspect was detained for allegedly leaking sensitive information about Indian Army movements to a handler based in Pakistan. Following this, a second individual was also apprehended based on information obtained during the interrogation.
The preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects were receiving payments through online transactions in exchange for classified information. They maintained regular contact with their handler and were involved in transferring funds to local operatives as directed. Two mobile phones were seized, and a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed.
This operation by Punjab Police represents a crucial step in dismantling cross-border espionage networks.
The Punjab DGP mentioned, "Further investigation will be undertaken as per established protocol, focusing on tracing the financial trail and identifying additional operatives and connections within the network."
Last month, following the tragic Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 innocent lives, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had implemented several punitive measures against Pakistan, including declaring Defence, Military, Naval, and Air Advisors at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi as persona non grata. They were given a week to exit India, coinciding with the withdrawal of India's own Defence, Navy, and Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Additionally, five support staff members of the Service Advisors were also withdrawn from both High Commissions.
In retaliation for the deadly attack in Pahalgam, India initiated 'Operation Sindoor', targeting multiple terrorist camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
On Monday, for the first time since the ceasefire agreement, military operations chiefs from India and Pakistan communicated via a hotline to discuss measures to restore peace along the border.
Official sources indicate that Pakistan has expressed its intention not to escalate the conflict and has shown a willingness to adhere to the ceasefire.
The discussions between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) focused on halting military actions and maintaining the ceasefire agreement reached after India's anti-terror Operation Sindoor was paused at Pakistan's request on May 10.
The DGMOs' conversation also included strategies for exercising restraint and adhering to the consensus to cease firing while reviewing the current situation.