In a firm response to India’s continued belligerence, Pakistan has declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as persona non grata and ordered the individual to leave the country within 24 hours.
According to Dawn News, the decision was made after the said diplomat was found involved in activities that violated diplomatic norms, international conventions, and the responsibilities expected of diplomatic personnel.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Indian Chargé d’Affaires earlier today to convey Pakistan’s strong protest. A formal note verbale was handed over, informing India of the expulsion order and registering Islamabad’s protest against New Delhi’s provocative conduct.
The development comes in direct retaliation to India’s earlier move, where the Indian government, escalating tensions, declared a Pakistani diplomat persona non grata and ordered them to leave the country within 24 hours. As per the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires was summoned and handed a protest note.
The diplomatic row intensified following the April 22 attack on local tourists in Pahalgam, after which the Indian government launched a campaign of baseless accusations and incitement, including the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.
Additionally, India ordered all Pakistani diplomatic staff to exit the country by April 30, 2025—a move strongly condemned by Islamabad. In a reciprocal measure, Pakistan’s National Security Committee decided to restrict the Indian diplomatic mission to 30 personnel.
The standoff escalated further after the Pakistan Armed Forces delivered a decisive response to a cowardly Indian airstrike conducted late on the night of May 6. Pakistan shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and destroyed several military installations, including a brigade headquarters and multiple outposts.
On May 10, Pakistan launched a comprehensive counteroffensive codenamed Operation Banyan Marsus (Iron Wall), targeting key Indian military infrastructure. The operation successfully neutralized high-value targets, including Udhampur, Pathankot, and Adampur airbases, BrahMos missile storage sites, S-400 air defense systems, and several airfields.
Later that evening, a ceasefire agreement was reached between Pakistan and India. The announcement was made by U.S. President Donald Trump in a post on X (formerly Twitter), signaling a temporary halt to hostilities.
Pakistan reiterated that while it seeks regional peace, it will not tolerate aggression or violations of its sovereignty, and reserves the right to respond with full force when provoked.
