Pak pulls out 4 embassy officials from India, sparring continues
NEW DELHI: Following Pakistani channels telecasting photos of two officials of Indian diplomatic corps in Islamabad as part of an espionage ring India is set to withdraw the duo from the Indian high commission in Islamabad. The Pakistani media has alleged their involvement in subversive activities.
Rajesh Agnihotri and Balbir Singh, two Indian embassy officials, will be removed most likely before they are declared ‘persona non-grata' by Pakistan. The two officials were identified and their photographs were being flashed repeatedly by different Pakistani TV news channels on Wednesday.
The Geo TV claimed that Agnihotri was directly linked with RAW while Singh was working for Intelligence Bureau (IB) and they were allegedly using their positions in Pakistan as cover to hide their real identities.
It claimed Singh was also running a network of militants in Pakistan and expelled high commission official Surjeet Singh was also part of his network.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan called back four officials from its High Commission in India after they were named in a recorded statement of Mehmood Akhtar who was briefly detained and then expelled by India.
In a tit-for-tat action, Pakistan had declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh as persona non-grata after New Delhi's action against Akhtar following Delhi police's busting of an Isi-run spy ring.
Meanwhile, Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan Syed Haider Shah was summoned today to Ministry of External Affairs to convey its grave concern and register a strong protest at the recent escalation in the incidents of ceasefire violations by the Pakistan side at the Line of Control and International Border.
New Delhi also registered its strong protest on the mutilation of the body of an Indian soldier by a terrorist who escaped across the Line of Control after committing the heinous crime.
External Affairs Ministry said, continued ceasefire violations have resulted in several casualties on the Indian side among civilians and security forces personnel.