Indian government has expelled a Pakistani official posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, ordering him to leave the country within 24 hours.

The diplomat, whose name has not been officially disclosed, was declared persona non grata on vague allegations of activities "not in keeping with his official status."

The decision was conveyed via a formal demarche to Pakistan's Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi on Tuesday. However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has failed to present any concrete evidence or elaborate on the nature of the claims — a pattern Pakistan has repeatedly criticized as part of a campaign to malign its diplomats and disrupt diplomatic engagement.

Islamabad has condemned the expulsion as an unjust and politically motivated act, reflecting a growing trend in New Delhi’s coercive diplomacy. “This is yet another step by India to undermine regional diplomacy and avoid meaningful dialogue on key bilateral issues, particularly the situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” a senior Pakistani foreign ministry source told local media.

This development comes amid heightened tensions and an increasingly rigid posture by the Indian government, which has refused to engage in constructive dialogue with Pakistan, despite numerous offers by Islamabad to resolve disputes through diplomatic and peaceful means, including the 2003 ceasefire understanding and the long-standing issue of Kashmir.

Observers view the expulsion as part of India's broader strategy to deflect attention from internal challenges and ongoing human rights concerns, especially in Indian-administered Kashmir, by escalating diplomatic provocations.

Pakistan is expected to issue a formal response and may consider reciprocal measures in line with international diplomatic norms. (ILKHA)