In a new diplomatic standoff, Pakistan summoned India's envoy, Geetika Srivastava, to officially protest what it termed "provocative actions" by New Delhi in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

This move further escalated the relations between India and Pakistan, with Islamabad declaring a series of retaliatory measures, including reducing diplomatic personnel and expelling Indian defense officials.

Pakistan Expels Indian Defence Officials

India's air, naval, and defence officials serving in Islamabad have been expelled and told to vacate the country, accompanied by their support team, based on diplomatic sources. The move is a replica of similar actions reportedly preceded by India earlier over strained relations. The Indian High Commission staff in Islamabad will be downsized to 30 individuals, severely curtailing diplomatic interaction between the two nations.

Indian Nationals Told to Depart Pakistan Within 48 Hours

In a contentious and abrupt move, Pakistan has directed all Indian nationals, except Sikh pilgrims, to depart within 48 hours. Islamabad's Foreign Office asserted that this was a part of a sovereign initiative in reaction to India's "unilateral" steps, such as suspending collaboration under the Indus Waters Treaty. Sources indicated that a formal démarche — a diplomatic protest note — was presented to Ms Srivastava, outlining the actions taken by Pakistan in response to the developments in the Pahalgam case.

Pakistan Denies 'Misinformation'

At the same time, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch met with foreign diplomats in Islamabad, blaming India for trying to escalate tensions and initiate a "misinformation campaign" against Pakistan. She echoed Islamabad's condemnation of terrorism and mentioned the results of a recent National Security Committee meeting. But Indian authorities insist that Pakistan is still giving the terror outfits in Jammu and Kashmir safe haven and ideological support. New Delhi has always called upon Islamabad to dismantle its terror setup and stop interfering in India's internal matters.

India Steady On Security, International Support Assured

The Pahalgam terror attack, which killed several people, has evoked global condemnation, with New Delhi attributing the masterminds to Pakistan-based handlers. India will be expected to activate global diplomatic avenues to expose Pakistan's hypocrisy on terror and enhance its internal security machinery in Jammu and Kashmir. Experts aver that Pakistan's actions represent a defensive strategy to deflect criticism from its inability to contain cross-border terrorism.

With this latest tit-for-tat escalation, diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have hit a new nadir. Experts feel that Islamabad's move to expel Indian officials and citizens may further isolate it on the global stage, particularly as India continues to strengthen strategic relations with world powers.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not made any official statement so far, but it is learnt that India is keeping a close eye on the situation and would act as per its national interest.


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