Pakistan Expels Indian High Commission Staffer In Tit-For-Tat Diplomatic Move

In a retaliatory move, Pakistan on May 22 expelled an Indian High Commission staffer from Islamabad, a day after India expelled a Pakistani official on charges of espionage. The decision marks the latest escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two South Asian rivals.

According to a statement by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the Indian staff member was declared persona non grata for allegedly "engaging in activities inconsistent with his privileged status." The official has been ordered to leave the country within 24 hours.

The Indian Chargé d'Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad to be formally informed of the expulsion. The statement further warned Indian diplomats against misusing their diplomatic privileges.

READ: India Expels Another Pakistani Diplomat, 2nd Time In A Week

The diplomatic row was sparked on Wednesday when India expelled a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, also citing espionage activities. This marked the second such expulsion of a Pakistani official by India in the span of a week. On May 13, another Pakistani diplomat had been ordered to leave the country on similar charges.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the expelled Pakistani staffer was involved in actions “not in keeping with his official status” and was also asked to depart within 24 hours.

Rising Tensions

The diplomatic flare-up comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. India has blamed Pakistan-based terror groups for the attack and responded with precision airstrikes on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Pakistan retaliated with attempted strikes on Indian military positions on May 8, 9, and 10, prompting strong countermeasures from the Indian side. The military hostilities ceased after directors general of military operations from both countries agreed to de-escalate on May 10.

The tit-for-tat expulsions signal continued strain in diplomatic ties even as military tensions show signs of easing.