Pak high commission staffer caught spying asked to leave country

The external ministry on Thursday asked Pakistan high commission staffer, Mehmood Akhtar, to leave the country after declaring him a persona non grata on charges of espionage.

The external ministry on Thursday asked Pakistan high commission staffer, Mehmood Akhtar, to leave the country after declaring him persona non grata on charges of espionage.

Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, residents of Rajasthan, were arrested for passing on information to Mehmood Akhtar, a staffer at the Pakistan high commission. Akhtar has been declared persona non grata.

In the latest strain between the neighbours, the decision came after Akhtar was found in possession of confidential documents relating to India’s defence strategies.

Foreign secretary S Jaishankar had summoned Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit at 11:30 am over the matter, and conveyed Akhtar’s status. The status of persona non grata means that an official who enjoys diplomatic immunity has to leave the country soon.

Akhtar had been detained by Delhi Police on Wednesday night after being found with the sensitive documents. After being questioned by the crime branch, he was let off given his diplomatic immunity.