Pak mission staffer told to leave India in 24 hrs

India on Tuesday declared a Pakistani official — reportedly a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi — ‘persona non grata’, asking him to leave the country within 24 hours.

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In diplomatic terms, ‘persona non grata’ refers to the expulsion of a foreign diplomat from the host country, and is considered the most serious form of censure under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961).

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said: “The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, ‘persona non grata’ for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India.”

The Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission was issued a demarche to this effect today. This move follows a similar action on April 23, when — just a day after the terror attack in Pahalgam — India declared the defence, military, naval and air advisers at the Pakistani High Commission ‘persona non grata’. At the same time, India also announced the withdrawal of its own defence, navy and air advisers from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

The Vienna Convention allows the host country to declare a foreign diplomat ‘persona non grata’ without providing an explanation. Once declared, the individual is typically required to leave within 48 to 72 hours.