Pakistani Foreign Ministry Confirms Recall of at Least Four Diplomats From India

Not less than four Pakistani diplomats were recalled because India had stated without any grounds that the diplomats were involved in certain activities, challenging safety of the officials and their families, according to spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nafees Zakaria.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — Spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nafees Zakaria on Wednesday confirmed that Islamabad had withdrawn at least four diplomatic representatives from India.

On Thursday, Indian police said it had dismantled a Pakistani spy network and detained a staff member of the Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi on suspicion of espionage. Media reported that the detained diplomat had read a list of four other Pakistani diplomats, who allegedly had ties with Pakistan's intelligence services. According to media reports, Islamabad later withdrew six diplomats from India.

Zakaria told RIA Novosti that not less than four diplomats had been recalled because India had stated without any grounds that the diplomats were involved in certain activities, challenging safety of the officials and their families.

He added that New Delhi had violated common diplomatic norms as well as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Tensions have been simmering between India and Pakistan after a deadly attack on the Uri military base in the India-administered Kashmir in September. New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing terrorism in the disputed region, but Pakistan denied any role in insurgency.