India has ordered another Pakistani diplomat, Muzammil, to leave the country within 24 hours, marking a further escalation in diplomatic hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Muzammil, who served in the visa section of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, was declared persona non grata for alleged activities deemed incompatible with his diplomatic status.
The Pakistani chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, where he was issued a formal démarche. Indian authorities stressed the expectation that all Pakistani diplomats strictly adhere to diplomatic protocols and not misuse their privileges.
Also Read: Indian Diplomat Expelled by Pakistan Over Misconduct Allegations
This is the second such expulsion in recent days. On May 13, India had already expelled another Pakistani visa assistant, Rahim, under similar allegations. Since the Pahalgam incident in April, India has expelled a total of 24 Pakistani diplomatic staff and ordered all Pakistani citizens to leave within 48 hours. The closure of the Attari check post and a seven-day deadline for the Pakistani High Commission to vacate have further deepened the diplomatic rift.
The Indian Ministry’s latest statement reaffirms its hardened stance, stating it “will not tolerate misuse of diplomatic cover under any circumstances.” Pakistan has yet to issue an official response to the latest expulsion order.
These tit-for-tat moves have raised concerns of a prolonged diplomatic freeze, with regional observers urging both sides to de-escalate and re-establish communication channels.
