New Delhi: Caught for spying, a staff member of the Pakistani High Commission was today declared persona non grata and asked to leave India within 24 hours.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement: “The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India.”

“The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge d’ Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect.” The person is a staffer at the Pakistani High Commission and not an officer.

The action comes a day after Malerkotla Police on Sunday arrested two persons, including a 31-year-old woman, for their alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani official posted at the High Commission in Delhi.

Those arrested have been identified as Guzala and Yameen Mohamad, both residents of Malerkotla. Police have also recovered two mobile phones from their possession.

The arrests come after the Amritsar Rural Police earlier nabbed two persons — Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih — for their alleged role in leaking sensitive information and photographs of the army cantonment areas and air bases to Pakistan’s intelligence agency.

Police said the accused had been receiving payments through online transactions in exchange for sharing classified information.

Pak action

In retaliation, Pakistan declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad persona non grata, citing activities it deemed incompatible with his diplomatic status.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the official has been ordered to leave Pakistan within 24 hours. “The Government of Pakistan has declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, as  persona non grata for engaging in activities incompatible  with his privileged status,” the statement said.