After India, Pakistan declares Indian HC staffer as PNG

Islamabad: In retaliation to India’s act of expelling Pakistan High Commission staffer, Akhtar Mehmood, over espionage allegation, the latter has declared Indian diplomatic official Surjeet Singh, persona non grata (PNG).

The Indian diplomatic official has been declared asked to leave Pak along with family members before October 29.

The Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that Singh was asked to leave the country over violation of Vienna Convention and diplomatic etiquette. “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,” the spokesperson stated.

Also read: Two arrested for leaking Defence information to Pakistan High Commission

The case:

• Police officials had held a Pakistan High Commission staffer—35-year-old Mahmood Akhtar on Thursday last, with vital Defence documents, maps and force deployment details of Indian army.

• The police said that he was detained after a tip-off and was let off because of diplomatic immunity. The officials stated that Akhtar identified himself as Mehmood Rajput on being apprehended.

• The official was in staff of Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and was in possession of highly classified army-related documents.

• Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale was summoned by the Pak Foreign office and was declared as persona Non grata.

• It also issued statement rejecting Indian allegations and condemning the Ministry of external Affairs actions.

What Pakistan Foreign office stated?