The Government of India has declared another official at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata and directed him to leave the country within 24 hours for activities deemed incompatible with his diplomatic status. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the move through a press release issued on Wednesday (May 21), citing “activities not in keeping with their official status.”
A formal demarche was issued to the chargé d’affaires of the Pakistan High Commission, conveying India’s strong objections and urging Islamabad to ensure that its diplomatic personnel adhere strictly to established norms.
“Charge d’Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today. He was asked to strictly ensure that none of the Pakistani diplomats or officials in India misuse their privileges and status in any manner,” the MEA stated.
The expelled official, identified as Ahsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, was allegedly involved in espionage activities under the guise of providing visa services. His name has surfaced in the ongoing investigation surrounding Haryanvi YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested earlier this month from Hisar for allegedly spying for Pakistani intelligence.
The First Information Report (FIR) against Malhotra reportedly states that she first met Danish in 2023 at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi while seeking a visa. According to the police, Danish is suspected of being her handler and is alleged to have facilitated her recruitment by Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Malhotra, whose YouTube channel has over 3.87 lakh subscribers, is accused of maintaining contact with Danish during a critical four-day military standoff between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Police sources claim she leaked sensitive details about Indian Army movements during this period.
Earlier, on May 13, the Indian government had expelled another Pakistani official from the High Commission for similar espionage-related activities. Pakistan, in a retaliatory move, subsequently declared an Indian diplomat posted in Islamabad as persona non grata, alleging that he too was involved in activities “incompatible with his privileged status.”
The twin expulsions underscore a fresh wave of diplomatic tension between the two countries amid escalating concerns over cross-border intelligence operations. The MEA has reiterated that such misuse of diplomatic privileges is unacceptable and will be dealt with firmly.
Meanwhile, investigators continue to uncover details of the alleged spy ring centred around Malhotra. Authorities have described her as being “developed as an asset” by Pakistani intelligence operatives, with Danish playing a central role in her recruitment and operation.
