Pakistan, India expel HC officials

Pakistan on Tuesday declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, as a persona non grata for engaging in activities incompatible with his privileged status and ordered the official concerned to leave the country within 24 hours, the Foreign Office stated.

"The concerned official has been directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours. The Indian Charge d'Affaires was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today for a demarche, conveying this decision," Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press statement.

Earlier, India declared a Pakistani official at the high commission in New Delhi as persona non grata, accusing him of "activities not in keeping with his official status" and ordered the official to leave the country within 24 hours.

According to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires was given a demarche regarding the decision. "The Pakistani official concerned has been engaging in activities that are incompatible with his diplomatic status," it said without elaborating on the nature of the allegations.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)