AMN /
India today declared a Pakistan High Commission staffer as persona non-grata for espionage activities after he was caught by Delhi Police with documents relating to defence deployment.
This was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit to his office following brief detention of the staffer. The staffer Mehmood Akhtar, who worked in visa section of the High Commission, was allegedly procuring critical details from two other accomplices who have been arrested in Delhi.
Akhtar was released after questioning by the police as he enjoys diplomatic immunity. Two other persons have been arrested by Delhi Police for spying. Those arrested are Maulana Ramzan and Subhash, and are from Nagaur in Rajasthan. Joint Commissioner of Police R S Yadav told a press conference in New Delhi that the High Commission staffer, Akhtar, was the kingpin of spy racket. This module has been active for a long time and police had inputs that they were working for Pakistan’s ISI.
Mr Yadav said, documents related to defence and BSF deployments, maps and visa-related documents have been recovered from both the spies.
He said, Akhtar had forged Aadhaar card and used to obtain information from his accomplices paying hefty amount to them. Akhtar was a havildar in Baloch regiment of Pakistan army and was later hired by ISI.