ISLAMABAD: In a tit for tat regarded rather as routine between two hostile countries, Pakistan on Thursday declared an official of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Surjeet Singh, as persona non grata and asked him to leave the country by Oct 29 after much the same treatment was meted out by India to a staffer of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, Mehmood Akhtar.

In a media statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the foreign secretary summoned the Indian high commissioner to convey to him Islamabad’s decision to expel Mr Singh and his family.

The statement said the Indian official was involved in activities that were not in line with established diplomatic norms.

Identical treatment earlier given by India to staffer of Pakistani mission in New Delhi

“The foreign secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms,” it said.

The Indian High Commission had been asked to make urgent arrangements for Mr Singh and his family to leave Pakistan by Oct 29, it added.

Earlier in the day, spokesperson for the Indian foreign ministry Vikas Swarup said Mr Akhtar was detained by Delhi Police for alleged possession of sensitive defence documents and had been asked to leave India within 48 hours.

Mr Akhtar, who worked in the visa section of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, was procuring critical details from two accomplices who were arrested, the Times of India quoted police as having claimed.

Mr Akhtar was released after prolonged questioning in view of his diplomatic immunity.

Mr Swarup alleged that Mr Akhtar was on deputation to Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and was a serving havaldar of the Baloch Regiment of the army.

Shortly after police revealed that the Pakistani official had been arrested, Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to his office and conveyed to him that Mr Akhtar had been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, according to the Times.

The Foreign Office in Islamabad denied all the allegations levelled against Mr Akhtar.

According to its statement, Mr Akhtar was picked up by the Indian authorities on Wednesday on false charges, but was released in about three hours upon intervention by Mr Basit.

“We reject the Indian allegations and deplore the Indian action which is indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere,” the statement said.

It said the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had always been working within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms. “This act clearly reflects Indian [intentions] to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission.”

The Foreign Office said the Indian attempts to escalate the tensions and divert international attention from the grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian forces in India-held Jammu and Kashmir would never succeed. “Pakistan urges the international community to take notice of the Indian designs,” the statement said.

A joint commissioner of Delhi Police, R.S. Yadav, told a press conference that the two people arrested along with Mr Akhtar were residents of Rajasthan and identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir. A court later sent both of them to 12 days of police remand.

A Jodhpur-based person identified as Shoaib would also be arrested soon for his involvement in the alleged espionage ring, Mr Yadav said.

Our correspondent in New Delhi contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2016