New Delhi: India expelled a staff member of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi after uncovering his alleged involvement in an espionage network operating across state borders. The move, announced on May 13, comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries following a series of military escalations after the Pahalgam terror attack.
The expelled official, identified only as Danish, was declared 'persona non grata,' a term used in diplomatic parlance for a person deemed unwelcome, and was ordered to leave India within 24 hours. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned the Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan to convey the decision formally.
Espionage Link Traced to Punjab Spy Ring
The expulsion stems from an ongoing investigation into a suspected cross-border spy ring in Punjab. Two Indian nationals, Guzala and Yameen Mohammed, were arrested by the Punjab Police for allegedly leaking sensitive military information to a foreign handler based in Pakistan.
According to a report by The Print, intelligence sources revealed that Guzala had first met Danish in February 2025 at the Pakistan High Commission while submitting a visa application. The two reportedly stayed in contact through encrypted apps, with Guzala allegedly providing classified details in exchange for digital payments totalling Rs 30,000. These funds were reportedly routed through UPI by Yameen, who is believed to have coordinated the operation and has previously travelled to Pakistan.
As per the report, police suspect a second in-person meeting took place in April, during which Guzala is believed to have handed over sensitive documents directly to Danish. The FIR in this case was filed on May 8, just a day after India carried out military strikes under Operation Sindoor.
Pakistan Expels Indian High Commission Official
In response to India’s move, Pakistan expelled an Indian High Commission official from Islamabad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan issued a demarche to the Indian Charge d’Affaires, accusing the Indian diplomat of engaging in “activities incompatible with his privileged status.”
The current tensions are rooted in the fallout from the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which led to India's Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This was followed by retaliatory strikes from Pakistan between May 7 and 10, culminating in the shelling of multiple Indian military and civilian locations.
A ceasefire agreement, announced on May 10, has held so far, supported by two rounds of direct communication between the countries' Directors General of Military Operations.
India’s latest diplomatic move indicates continued vigilance over cross-border intelligence threats, both physical and digital, even as efforts continue to stabilise the fragile ceasefire.
