What happened?
On May 21, 2025, the Government of India declared a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata, asking the individual to leave India within 24 hours. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the official was engaged in activities inconsistent with their official status. The Chargé d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission was issued a demarche to ensure Pakistani diplomats do not misuse their privileges. This marks the second Pakistani High Commission official expelled in less than a month. Additionally, the MEA strongly refuted Pakistan’s allegations regarding Indian involvement in a recent bombing in Khuzdar, Balochistan, describing them as “completely unfounded”.
Why it matters to India
This action signifies India’s firm stance against activities deemed detrimental to its national security and diplomatic decorum by foreign officials. Expelling the Pakistani official underscores India’s zero-tolerance policy towards intelligence gathering or subversive activities on its soil. The demarche to the Pakistan High Commission reinforces India’s expectation that diplomatic privileges are not abused. Furthermore, India’s strong rejection of Pakistan’s “baseless allegations” regarding the Balochistan bombing highlights its commitment to countering false narratives and protecting its international image. The MEA’s assertion that Pakistan attempts to shift blame to divert attention from its own internal issues and its reputation as a “global epicentre of terrorism” is crucial for India to expose Pakistan’s tactics on the international stage. This ensures that the global community is aware of India’s consistent position on state-sponsored terrorism and its commitment to upholding international peace and security.