Outed by Pakistan, 3 Indian diplomats return home

Even as Pakistan summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner in Islamabad to protest against what it termed as “unprovoked ceasefire violations”, India on Tuesday reportedly recalled three diplomats stationed at its high commission after their identities were earlier made public by Pakistan. Five more Indian diplomats are likely to return on Wednesday, taking the total number to eight. The MEA refused to comment on the matter.

According to news agency reports, the three diplomats — first secretary (commercial) Anu-rag Singh, Vijay Kumar Verma and Madhavan Nanda Kumar — left Pakistan by air on Tuesday. According to Pakistani media reports, the three are travelling to India by air via Dubai and the five other diplomats may return to India by road via the Wagah border.

India was earlier expected to recall all eight diplomats after Pakistan had named them and said that they were all linked to RAW/IB, making their names public. Pakistan had earlier recalled six of their diplomats after some Indian TV channels had made the names of four Pakistani diplomats public whom it alleged were ISI handlers.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Pakistan foreign ministry said, “The Director General (SA & SAARC), Dr Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner, J.P. Singh, today (November 8) and strongly condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations on 7 November 2016, by the Indian forces on the LoC in Nikial and Jandrot sectors, resulting in... (death) of three civilians, including a woman and injuries to four others, including a five year old boy.”

India has already made it clear that it is the Pakistani security forces which are engaging in ceasefire violations.