Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup
India said on Wednesday it would withdraw eight of its diplomats from Pakistan after they were identified in local media reports, in a further deterioration in ties with the neighbour nation. “They have put in the public domain eight names and six of these people went today. We will eventually withdraw all eight,” said Vikas Swarup, spokesman at the Ministry of External Affairs.
He said the diplomats had been “completely compromised” after their names and pictures were put in the public domain. Earlier, Pakistani media reported that Islamabad may expel as many as five Indian diplomats suspected of spying.
As many as six officials in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi also returned home Wednesday amidst growing tension between the two countries after a Pakistani Mission staffer was caught in an espionage ring and expelled. There was no official confirmation on the number of diplomats leaving India.