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| Edited By: DNA Web Team,Sakshi Chand |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Oct 28, 2016, 12:06 AM IST
Hours after Delhi police detained Pakistan's High Commission official Mehmood Akhtar in connection with procurement of defence documents, India on Thursday declared him as persona non-grata for espionage activities.
This was conveyed by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar who summoned Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit to his office following brief detention of the staffer who was later released.
"FS summons Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities," said Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs.
The meeting between Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Pak envoy Abdul Basit lasted for 10 minutes.
Acting on inputs, Delhi Police crime branch took the staffer in custody after he was found in possession of certain defence documents.
Police also arrested two persons for passing on sensitive information to the staffer. They have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir.
"The HC staffer was a havildar in Baloch regiment of Pakistan army and was later hired by ISI. He was working in the visa department of the High Commission. The Pakistani staffer had documents relating to deployment of BSF and defence deployment maps," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) RS Yadav told a press conference.
"Another Jodhpur-based person identified as Shoaib will be arrested soon for his involvement in espionage ring. All three were involved in espionage for over one-and-half years and shared information with Pak intelligence agencies."
Police also said that on initial interrogation, the official said he is an Indian citizen and also showed a fake AADHAR card.
"Some other names are also under scanner," police said.
Another Pakistani spy identified as Shoaib arrested by Rajasthan police, is being brought to Delhi for further probe.
"FS summoned Pak High Commissioner to convey Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities. Pak High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities, given 48 hours to leave India. Mehmood Akhtar was intercepted by Delhi police yesterday while he was receiving sensitive documents pertaining to national security of India," Swarup said.
On allegations of Mehmoom Akhtar being manhandled, Swarup said, "Categorically deny this, he was treated with courtesy befitting his diplomatic status. When Mehmood Akhtar was handed over to the Pak High Commissioner in the presence of MEA official, he himself said he was treated well."
"Mehmood Akhtar stated that he had joined Baloch regiment of Pak army in 1997, came on deputation to ISI in 2013. In fact it was Mehmood Akhtar who resorted to subterfuge by concealing his real identity. Mehmood Akhtar was posted in Sep 2013 to Pak High Commision, where he's currently working," said Swarup.
Reacting on Pakistan's denial on the entire espionage case, Swarup said, "Denial that has come out from Pakistan (on Mehmood Akhtar), would say that this is something which has by now become quiet characteristic. If today Pakistan is feeling isolated, it's because of its misguided policies. People of Pakistan should urge govt to adopt policies that favour peace."
Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on the controversy saying, "Pakistan condemns the Indian action of declaring Pakistan High Commission Staff member as Persona Non Grata (PNG)." The govt also condemned the "detention and manhandling of our diplomatic official".
In its statement, Pakistan alleges, "The Indian action has been accompanied by an extremely negative and orchestrated media campaign."
It added, "We reject the Indian allegations and deplore the Indian action which is indeed a violation of the Vienna Convention as well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated atmosphere. Pakistan High Commission has always been working within the parameters of international law and diplomatic norms. This act clearly reflects Indian actions to shrink diplomatic space for the working of Pakistan High Commission. The Indian attempts to escalate the tensions and divert the international attention from the grave human rights violations being perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir can never succeed. Pakistan urges the international community to take notice of the Indian designs."
Pakistan condemns 'detention and manhandling' of its diplomatic official in India. Says charges against its diplomatic official
'false and unsubstantiated'.
Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit has strongly protested with Indian Foreign Secretary at the detention and manhandling of Pakistan High Commission staffer yesterday in violation of 1961 Vienna Convention. The High Commissioner asked the Indian Government to ensure that such harassment should not happen in future. The High Commissioner strongly rejected and denied accusations of the Indian government. The High Commissioner has further said that Pakistan High Commission never engages in any activity that is incompatible with its diplomatic status.
Fake Aadhar card of PHC staffer Mehmood Akhtar which he showed cops when intercepted outside delhi zoo. @dna pic.twitter.com/HBaWilNlo3
— Sakshi Chand (@sakshichand8) October 27, 2016
Two spies arrested frm Rajasthan in the espionage case. Maulana ramzan and SUBHASH Jahangir @dna pic.twitter.com/gyBw64yAe9
— Sakshi Chand (@sakshichand8) October 27, 2016
Delhi Police on Pak High Commission Official
# He (HC staffer) was a havildar in Baloch regiment of Pakistan army and was later hired by ISI. He was working in the visa department of the High Commission.
# Two spies were arrested as well. They have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir and are from Rajasthan.
# Espionage racket has been busted. The High Commissioner staffer was used to recruit them.
# This module has been active for the last one-and-a-half years. On October 25, intelligence input was received that the documents would be brought and they would meet near a zoo. The police intercepted them.
# Mehmood Akhtar disclosed his identity under another name and produced an Aadhar card as well.
# Another accused Shoaib, who is a passport and visa agent, is absconding as of now.
# Maulana was recruited by him and then Subhash was recruited.
# Defence deployment, BSF deployment maps, visa-related documents were recovered from both the spies (Ramzan and Subhash).
# On an average, they met once a month at tourist spots.
(With inputs from DNA Correspondent Sakshi Chand - @sakshichand8 )
Two others arrested by Delhi Police crime branch on spying charges.
FS summons Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) October 27, 2016
