India Expels Pakistani Diplomat, Declares Him Persona Non Grata Amid Tensions

New Delhi: The Government of India has ordered an official of the Pakistan High Commission to leave the country within 24 hours. India has declared an official of the Pakistan High Commission as 'persona non grata'. This means that the Government of India does not accept him. He is accused of doing things that were against the rules of his post, therefore, he has been asked to leave India. A few days ago also a Pakistani official was declared 'persona non grata'.

The Government of India has taken this decision at a time when the tension between the two countries is at its peak. On Wednesday, the Charge d'Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission was summoned and handed a demarche (diplomatic protest letter). He was clearly instructed that no Pakistani diplomat or official posted in India should misuse his privileges and status. Let us tell you that 'persona non grata' is a situation in which any foreign diplomat is declared undesirable, in which he is asked to leave the host country immediately. This is considered a very strict and serious response at the diplomatic level.

Earlier on May 13, a Pakistani official working in the Pakistan High Commission was expelled for alleged involvement in espionage. Then the Ministry of External Affairs had said that this officer was not behaving according to the dignity of his diplomatic post in India, so he has been asked to leave the country within 24 hours. At that time, this action was taken amid increased tension after four days of military confrontation between the two countries.