(Karachi) In a surprising move, India has decided to reduce the the number of employees in Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi by upto 50 percent. It claimed that the deputed officials are engaged in 'spying', Reuters reported on Tuesday.
As per details, the decision was conveyed to the Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan, who was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs.
India has also decided to cut staff in its own embassy in Islamabad by the same amount. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has rejected India's claim of spying, saying all Pakistani envoys and officials in India are working according to set rules and norms.
He said Pakistan will also send 50 percent Indian high commission staff in response to allegations.
Islamabad police nabs two Indian High Commission officials
India took the initiative days after two of its High Commission officials were arrested by police for their involvement in a hit-and-run accident and possession of fake currency. However, both men were later released and sent back to India after intervention by Foreign Office.
On May 31, India declared two staffers of the Pakistani mission persona non grata after accusing them of espionage. Both were expelled later. However, Pakistan strongly dismissed Indian claims and instead accused New Delhi for violating the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.
Pakistan releases two Indian High Commission officials on FO intervention
India has been facing criticism for bitter ties with its neighbouring countries and for human rights violations in Jammu Kashmir and for hatred against the minorities, especially the Muslim community.
India's position and image was tarnished after it got involved in border clash with China. At least more than 20 Indian soldiers were killed while several others suffered injuries during clashes with Chinese troops.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to hide the facts, claiming none of its soldiers were killed in the clashes but pressure from its opposition parties compelled Modi to accept India's defeat at the hands of Chinese forces in Ladakh.