Tit-for-tat: Pakistan orders Indian diplomat to leave

islamabad — In a tit-for-tat measure, Pakistan on Thursday night declared Indian High Commission official Surjeet Singh as persona non grata and asked that he leave the country by Saturday.

The foreign secretary on Thursday summoned the Indian High Commissioner and conveyed the decision of the Government of Pakistan, said a statement released by the Foreign Office.

The statement added that the foreign secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and 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 October 29, 2016.”

Earlier on Tursday, India decided

the indian High commission has been asked to make urgent necessary arrangements for Surjeet Singh and his family to leave Pakistan

Foreign Office

to expel a Pakistani high commission staff member for “espionage activities”, a foreign ministry official said, a media reported that Delhi police had detained him.

The Indian foreign secretary summoned Pakistani ambassador to India Abdul Basit to inform him that a Pakistan High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, spokesperson of Indian Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarap said in a tweet. —