India has recalled three diplomats stationed at its High Commission in Islamabad after Pakistan charged them with “spying.” The diplomats, including First Secretary Anurag Singh, were named by Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria, who alleged that a number of Indian diplomats and staffers were involved in “coordinating terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan under the garb of diplomatic assignments.”
According to officials, apart from Mr. Singh, Vijay Kumar Verma and Madhavan Nanda Kumar left Pakistan by air on Tuesday. The decision was taken as their security was “completely compromised” by Pakistan with their names and photographs published and broadcast in the media there.
India’s action comes within days of Pakistan recalling six of its High Commission officials here after their names were made public by another mission staffer Mahmood Akhtar, who was declared persona non-grata and expelled for running a spy ring last month. Mr. Akhtar’s expulsion triggered a tit-for-tat action by Islamabad, which also expelled an Indian High Commission official posted there.
