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In a retaliatory diplomatic move, Pakistan on Tuesday declared an Indian High Commission official persona non grata, ordering the individual to leave the country within 24 hours. The decision came shortly after India expelled a Pakistani diplomat stationed in New Delhi over similar accusations.
Mutual Accusations of Espionage
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Indian diplomat had been found involved in “activities incompatible with his privileged status.” The Indian Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad was summoned and handed a formal démarche, officially informing him of the expulsion.
“This action is in accordance with diplomatic norms and reflects Pakistan’s commitment to upholding its sovereignty,” the Foreign Office stated.
Earlier, India’s Ministry of External Affairs made a nearly identical statement regarding the Pakistani official it expelled. It claimed the diplomat had been involved in activities that violated diplomatic protocol and instructed him to leave the country within 24 hours.
“The Pakistani official concerned has been engaging in activities that are incompatible with his diplomatic status,” read India’s official statement, which offered no further details.
Tense Backdrop: Recent Military Escalation
The diplomatic tit-for-tat comes just days after a major ceasefire announcement on May 10, following escalating military exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The ceasefire was brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump and confirmed by high-level officials including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Despite the truce, this latest diplomatic clash suggests underlying mistrust remains unresolved.
DGMOs Agree to De-escalation
The expulsion announcements came just one day after the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries held their first formal dialogue since the ceasefire. During the virtual meeting, both sides reportedly agreed to halt aggressive actions and avoid firing a single shot across the Line of Control (LoC).
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However, the timing of the diplomatic expulsions may jeopardize these tentative steps toward peace.
Roots of the Crisis: The Pahalgam Attack
Tensions initially spiked following a deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The attack killed 26 civilians, prompting New Delhi to accuse Pakistan-based elements of orchestrating the violence. Islamabad rejected the allegations, citing lack of evidence and calling them “baseless provocations.”
India responded by closing the Wagah border, revoking diplomatic visas, and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, moves which Pakistan condemned as “acts of war.”
Military Operations: Operation Sindoor vs. Bunyanum Marsoos
In retaliation for the Pahalgam incident, India launched Operation Sindoor, involving missile strikes and drone incursions into Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan quickly retaliated with Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, reportedly downing five Indian fighter jets, including Rafales, and intercepting 77 Israeli-made Harop drones.
The escalating conflict threatened to spiral out of control until diplomatic intervention led by Washington resulted in a ceasefire agreement that paused hostilities across land, air, and sea.
Diplomacy Still Under Strain
Though the guns have temporarily fallen silent, the latest diplomatic expulsions reveal that deep-rooted tensions remain unresolved. With both countries accusing each other’s envoys of espionage and subversive activities, the fragile ceasefire could be undermined by a breakdown in diplomatic communication.
Whether the ceasefire holds or collapses may now depend on sustained international mediation and renewed political will in New Delhi and Islamabad to shift focus from retaliation to reconciliation.
