- By Ridam Sharma
- Thu, 24 Apr 2025 02:40 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Persona Non Grata Legal Meaning: The term persona non grata is making headlines following India’s firm diplomatic response to the recent heartwrenching Pahalgam terrorist attack in Kashmir. In the attack, terrorists shot over 28 innocent tourists and locals, due to religious hatred. But what does the term -Person Non Grata actually mean, and why is it so significant in international relations, especially during moments of heightened unrest like the Pahalgam Terror Attack?
What Is Persona Non Grata?
Persona non grata is a Latin phrase, which simply means An Unwelcome Person. However, in diplomatic terms, the phrase refers to a foreign diplomat or official whom the host country no longer wishes to accept within its borders.
The Persona Non Grata is a diplomatic, nonviolent way by which a nation can show its displeasure with someone's behaviour, which normally leads to expulsion of the individual from the host nation.
The concept of Persona Non Grata is mentioned in Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, according to which a state may declare any diplomat persona non grata at any time, without an explanation.
Why Is Someone Declared Persona Non Grata?
States apply the rule of Persona Non Grata of an individual or country due to several reasons, like the violation of Diplomatic Protocol, where an individual acts as a spy and interferes in internal affairs or if he jeopardises the interests of the host nation.
The Persona Non Grata is also given, due to the violation of local laws, that is, committing crimes or activities that compromise national security. Diplomatic tensions also lead to Persona Non Grata, as a display of revenge during strained diplomatic relations between countries.
Process And Consequences Of Persona Non Grata:
After a declaration of Persona Non Grata, the person is usually given a brief timeline, which is mostly one week, to exit the country. Non-compliance with Persona Non Grata may result in additional legal or diplomatic repercussions, and losing diplomatic protection is one of them.
The declaration of Persona Non Grata often results in repercussions like the same expulsions from another country. Additionally, this also affects the bilateral relations between the countries involved.
Persona Non Grata Significance In Pahalgam Terror Attack:
The government of India has taken several important political and diplomatic decisions amid the violent terror attack on Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025.
In a firm reaction to the attack, India expelled all the Pakistani military envoys (Defence, Naval, and Air Advisors) in New Delhi through Persona Non Grata and has given them only a week to exit India. This decision is one of the strongest diplomatic moves by the nation of billions, sending out the signal that India profoundly disapproves of Pakistan's suspected involvement in cross-border terror. India has also threatened to withdraw its military advisors from Islamabad and downgrade diplomatic relations, which means practically excluding Pakistan diplomatically.