A RATTLED PAKISTAN restort to a Classic 'Tit-For-Tat' Move: Pak Declares Indian Official Persona Non-Grata


After India declared Pakistan High Commissioner Mehmood Akhtar as persona non-grata, Pakistan, in a complete ‘tit-for-tat’ move has declared a junior official of the Indian High Commission, Surjit Singh, as persona non-grata.

The Pakistan Foreign Office summoned Indian Envoy Gautam Bambawale late Thursday night and conveyed the same.
"The Foreign Secretary summoned the Indian High Commissioner today and conveyed the decision of the Government of Pakistan to declare Mr. Surjeet Singh, an official of the Indian High Commission, as persona non grata,” a statement by the Pakistan Foreign Office stated.
The Indian official has been asked to return to India in 48 hours, the same deadline given to Pakistani official Mahmood Akhtar. The only ground that Pakistan has given for this move is a “violation” of the Vienna Convention.
“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 Indian High Commission has been asked to make urgent necessary arrangements for Surjeet Singh and his family to leave Pakistan by 29 October 2016,” the statement concluded.
An employee of the Pakistan High Commission, Mehmood Akhtar, was detained and questioned by the Delhi Crime Branch in a case of espionage. The staffer was found in possession of defence documents.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar earlier today conveyed to the Pakistan Envoy that his staffer has been declared persona non-grata for espionage activities. Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit was told by the Foreign Secretary that the "documents found in his possession were incompatible with his status of staffer. He should be removed within 48 hours".
While addressing the media, the Delhi Police Crime Branch stated that the employee of the Pakistan High Commission, Mehmood Akhtar, was the kingpin of the espionage racket.
In spite of clear proof of espionage, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit rejected the charges of espionage against his employee, and the Nawaz Sharif government earlier released a statement rejecting the charges and ‘condemning’ the action taken by the Indian government.

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