India confirms Pak mission staffer declared persona non grata for espionage activities

New Delhi [India], Oct. 27 : Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit today met Foreign Secretary Subramaniam Jaishankar and was told that one of his staffers has been declared persona non grata for alleged espionage activities.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet, "FS summons Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities." Earlier, the Delhi Police crime branch on Wednesday detained Pakistan's High Commission official Mehmood Akhtar on charges of espionage.

Akhtar has been detained at the crime branch office in Chanakyapuri and is being questioned. The arrest was made on the basis of a tip-off received by the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The official has the diplomatic immunity, so a final decision would be taken by the Ministry of External Affairs with regard to his possible deportation, said police sources.

Police sources claimed that Akhtar was arrested with confidential documents. Akhtar has been working with the Pakistan High Commission in India for the past three years. Police suspect an insider of leaking information, plans and strategy papers to Akhtar..

Source: ANI