India expelled two officials from the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi over spying allegations, ordering them to leave the country within 24 hours.
The Indian External Affairs Ministry said Sunday that the two were detained for “indulging in espionage activities.” The two officials were declared “persona non grata for indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission,” the government said in a statement.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the expulsions and rejected the allegations of espionage. In a statement, it said the two officials were detained on “false and unsubstantiated charges.”
Indian media said the two officials worked in the embassy’s visa department and were trying to obtain information on an Indian security establishment when they were detained.
An embassy spokesman said the two had returned home Monday.
Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have deteriorated sharply since India revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in August. The Kashmir region has been claimed by both India and Pakistan. The countries have fought two of their three wars over control of the region since 1947.
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