India issues demarche to Pakistan after 2 High Commission staffers go missing in Islamabad

The incident comes days after two Pakistani officials at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi were accused of espionage and deported. The two officials, Abid Hussain and Muhammad Tahir, were caught by Delhi Police while they were obtaining sensitive documents relating to India’s security installations from an Indian national in exchange for money, official sources said in New Delhi.

Delhi: Pakistan’s Charge d’affaires to India arrives at MEA on being summoned by the Ministry, after two Indian officials working with Indian High Commission in Islamabad (Pakistan) went missing. pic.twitter.com/L3oySdrejo

— ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2020

This is the first time after four years that such an incident of expelling officials of the Pakistan High Commission has taken place. In October 2016, India and Pakistan had expelled officials from each other’s missions for spying. Pakistan had summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register a strong protest over the decision.

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India and Pakistan downgraded their diplomatic ties in August last year, after Jammu & Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 was revoked. Both countries have recalled their High Commissioners, and Deputy High Commissioners now act as the chief of the mission.