Islamabad, May 22 - Pakistan's Shahbaz government has sacked an employee of the Indian High Commission in retaliation. It is noteworthy that India had sacked a Pakistani official working in the Pakistani High Commission on charges of espionage the previous day. This is the second case of sacking in India in the last one week.
The Ministry of External Affairs had said that an employee of the Pakistani High Commission has been declared a 'persona non grata' for engaging in activities outside official duties and has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. India had also sacked a Pakistani official on May 13 for alleged involvement in espionage activities.
Following this action by India, Pakistan suspended an Indian staffer posted in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, "The Government of Pakistan has declared a staffer of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as persona non grata for engaging in activities contrary to the status granted to him under his special privileges. The officer concerned has been asked to leave Pakistan within 24 hours."
The Indian High Commissioner in charge was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to inform him of this decision. According to the statement, it was emphasized that no diplomat or employee of the Indian High Commission will misuse his special privileges and position in any way.
The tension between India and Pakistan has further increased after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. 26 people lost their lives in this attack. In response to the Pahalgam attack, India carried out precision strikes on terrorist structures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. After this, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military installations on May 8, 9 and 10. India gave a strong response to this action of Pakistan. An agreement to halt military operations was reached on May 10 after talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both sides.