38 Indian High Commission officials leave for India

LAHORE (92 News) – Thirty-eight staff members of Indian High Commission including six diplomats and their families left for India via Wagah-Attari Border on Tuesday. Indian diplomats in Islamabad headed homewards after Pakistan asked India to cut the size of its diplomatic staff here by half in a tit-for-tat response to the neighbouring country’s similar move. According to sources, the Indian High Commission officials, including six diplomats, left by two buses and a truck for the Wagah border. The Indian officials also included a first secretary, two second secretaries, and three attachés. A total of 100 officials of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, including their family members, will come back home through the Wagah border today (Tuesday). It is pertinent to mention here that amid the ongoing diplomatic tussle with Pakistan the Indian government asked Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to cut staff by 50 percent. Tensions between the two countries began back on May 31, when two officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were ordered to leave the country within 24 hours after being declared "persona non grata". Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says India’s behavior with Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi is clear violation of the Vienna Convention. In a statement, he said Indian allegations against the staff of Pakistani High Commission are baseless. FM Qureshi said India asked for fifty percent reduction in Pakistani staff at its High Commission in New Delhi, and Pakistan responded in the coin by asking India to reduce its staff in Pakistan by fifty percent. He said if Pakistani staff returns home, Indian staff will also go back. Shah Mahmood said Pakistan will not remain silent on Indian allegations, but will fully respond. He said India is trying to find excuses to carry out false flag operation in Pakistan.