Pakistan to recall 4 Delhi High Commission staffers

The Pakistan government may recall four of its officials from its high commission in New Delhi, a Pakistani media report claimed, after some Indian TV channels Saturday made public their names, alleging the probe into the recent espionage scandal had revealed the four were ISI handlers at the high commission. TV reports last week had claimed the names of the four high commission officials cropped up in investigations after mission staffer Mehmood Akhtar was caught red-handed by the Delhi police receiving sensitive documents on Indian military and paramilitary deployments. India had declared Akhtar persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country by Saturday, after which he left.

The BJP, meanwhile, Tuesday accused the Pakistan high commission of becoming an “ISI den” and “breaking” all laws, stressing that the Centre had taken cognisance of it and would take appropriate action.

The Pakistani media report said the four officials and their families were facing problems, with the child of one official apparently facing ridicule from classmates in his school in New Delhi. The media report said the recall of the four officials was under consideration and a final decision would be taken soon.

Government sources in New Delhi said more Pakistani diplomats could be asked to leave the country if security agencies find conclusive proof that they too were part of the espionage ring. Indian officials last week had refused to comment on these TV reports. Akhtar was working as an assistant to Pakistan’s trade counsellor Farukh Habib at the high commission. He was detained but released later due to his diplomatic immunity. Some TV channels had then claimed a four-member ISI team posted at the high commission was orchestrating the spy network and had named them.

Akhtar had been caught receiving documents including some BSF deployment details along the India-Pakistan border from two alleged Indian spies, both residents of Rajasthan but working for Pakistan’s ISI. Foreign secretary S. Jaishankar had then summoned Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit, informed him of what had happened and “strongly conveyed to the Pakistan high commissioner that (it) must ensure none of its members indulge in activities inimical to India, or behave in a manner incompatible with their diplomatic status”. Pakistan had denied these charges.

Lashing out at the high commission, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said: “The reality is that the high commission has become an ISI den. It is breaking all rules and laws... It’s work is no longer about diplomatic relationships, it has become a centre of smuggling information from here to there (Pakistan)”. He added: “The Indian government has taken cognisance of it, and will take appropriate action.”