Pakistan expels Indian diplomat in tit-for-tat move amid fragile post-war ceasefire

Pakistan on Tuesday expelled a staff member of the Indian High Commission, declaring him persona non grata for what it called “engaging in activities incompatible with his privileged status.”

The Foreign Office said the official had been ordered to leave the country within 24 hours. It also summoned India’s charge d’affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver a formal démarche.

The move came hours after India expelled a Pakistani official from its mission in New Delhi on similar grounds.

“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,” said a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

“The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge d’Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today,” the statement added.

Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors have simmered since last week’s cross-border military strikes. Both countries agreed to a ceasefire over the weekend, brokered with the help of the United States.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry rejected what it called India’s “new normal” of military confrontation.

“Peace is true strength,” the ministry said in a statement responding to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first public remarks since the military exchange.

Pakistan also reaffirmed its support for international mediation on the Kashmir issue.

It welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to help resolve the dispute, which Pakistan described as “a source of instability in South Asia.”

Despite the recent ceasefire, diplomatic tit-for-tat measures like Tuesday’s expulsions underline the fragile nature of the calm.