The Pakistani move is seen as tit-for-tat over the expulsion of two Pakistan high commission officials caught spying two weeks ago.
Pakistan apparently is keen to “level the score” by expelling Indian officials on similar charges as those faced by its staff here, who were declared persona non grata. The last time India expelled a Pakistan official for espionage, Islamabad managed to restore parity in 3 days by doing the same to an Indian official.
India had on Friday registered a protest with Pakistan authorities in the form of a note verbal against the surveillance. The government has conveyed to Pakistan that the behavior of its agencies violated Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 and also the bilateral 1992 Code of Conduct which the 2 countries signed to provide diplomats immunity from hostilities in ties.
India had asked Pakistan to ensure the safety and security of the Indian high commission and its staff and to allow them to resume their activities in keeping with the Vienna Convention. Pakistan has said that activities have been curtailed keeping in mind the Corona virus threat.
In March, the Indian High Commission in Pakistan sent a strong protest note to the foreign ministry in Islamabad protesting against the continuing harassment of its officers and staff by Pakistani agencies.
According to the note, India cited 13 instances of harassment in the month of March itself and asked Pakistan to stop such incidents and investigate the matter.
The shocking incident comes days after India apprehended two Pakistan High Commission officials in Delhi after they were charged with espionage. The two expelled Pakistani officials worked with the visa section of the High Commission in Delhi.
“2 officials of High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi were apprehended today by Indian law enforcement authorities for indulging in espionage activities. Government has declared them persona-non grate and asked them to leave the country within 24 hours,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said.
“Pakistan’s Charge de Affaires was issued demarche in which strong protest was lodged regarding the matter and was asked to ensure that no member of its diplomatic mission should indulge in activities inimical to India or behave in manner incompatible with their diplomatic status,” it noted.
