Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which left 26 Indian civilians dead. In the aftermath, a series of retaliatory military and diplomatic actions have pushed both nuclear-armed neighbors into a fresh wave of hostilities, despite a brief and now-broken ceasefire agreement.
On May 13, 2025, Pakistan announced an Indian High Commission official in Islamabad persona non grata and asked him to depart the country within 24 hours. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the official was “engaged in activities incompatible with his privileged diplomatic status.” The Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad was summoned and officially informed of the decision.
This action followed hours after India had ordered a Pakistani diplomat out of its High Commission in New Delhi, declaring him persona non grata. India’s Ministry of External Affairs states that the Pakistani official was engaged in “activities not following his official status,” which strongly indicates espionage-related activities. The diplomat was also asked to depart from India within 24 hours.
The tit-for-tat expulsions reflect the growing tension in Indo-Pak relations, which escalated after the Pahalgam attack. In retaliation for the deadly attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7— a multi-pronged military offensive on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. Over 100 terrorists were confirmed to have been neutralized, and substantial damage was caused to 11 Pakistani air bases by Indian defence officials. The operation, which included synchronized air, ground, and sea attacks, was termed “measured but decisive,” avoiding civilian casualties.
The Indian government blamed Pakistan-backed terror groups for the Pahalgam attack, which led to the military strike. In a strong warning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that “India will do anything to protect its citizens, and strongly dismissed Pakistan’s efforts at “nuclear blackmail.” He reaffirmed India’s long-standing policy that “terror and dialogue cannot go together.”
A temporary ceasefire agreement was reportedly reached on May 10 at the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) level. However, hostilities resumed within hours, with Pakistan accused of violating the truce through heavy cross-border shelling and drone incursions. India retaliated by downing multiple Pakistani drones and intensifying military readiness along the Line of Control (LoC).
Further complicating matters, Indian intelligence agencies, in coordination with the Punjab Police, arrested two individuals, including a woman, on charges of espionage. These suspects allegedly provided sensitive information about Indian Army troop movements to handlers linked to a Pakistani diplomat. This development is believed to be directly connected to India’s decision to expel the Pakistani official.
In a statement on social media, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its stance, saying:
“The Government of Pakistan has declared an employee of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as persona non grata for engaging in activities incompatible with his privileged status.”
While both countries have refrained from releasing specific identities of the expelled officials, the diplomatic fallout reflects a dangerous erosion of trust amid worsening cross-border violence.
With tensions still high and ceasefire efforts faltering, regional stability remains at risk. Observers warn that without renewed diplomatic engagement or third-party mediation, the current trajectory could spiral into a more prolonged conflict.
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