143 Pakistani officials working in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi reached the Attari-Wagah border on Tuesday on a quest to go back home. This has happened as a result of the decision to reduce the staff by 50% in the Pakistan High Commission which was announced a few days back, as told by the Protocol officer Arun Pal Singh to ANI.
The news agency ANI also reported that the Charge d’ Affaires of Pakistan, Syed Haider Shah was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs, India expressing concern over the activities of Pakistani officials working at the embassy. Therefore, the decision to lay off the staff to a 50% capacity was also informed seven days prior to Shah.
This movement across the border is happening post the June 1 arrest and expulsion of two Pakistani High Commission officials who were caught on espionage charges while trying to obtain documents related to Indian security establishment. They were caught by the police and further expelled from the country and were sent back to Pakistan.
“Pakistan high commission officials have been engaged in acts of espionage and and maintained dealings with terrorist organizations” said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement, as reported by ANI.
