27 October 2016, 06:00 GMT
NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, New Delhi police detained Pakistani High Commission Official Mehmood Akhtar after he had been found in possession of confidential documents containing information on India’s defense strategies. Akhtar was released on the basis of a diplomatic immunity, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported, citing sources.
The arrested men were suspected of being in touch with Akhtar and providing the Pakistani High Commission with sensitive defense data, according to the newspaper.
Earlier on Thursday, the Indian Foreign Ministry summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit for clarifications and notified him that Akhtar was declared "persona non grata for espionage activities," ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Twitter.
Relations between Islamabad and New Delhi have been especially tense following the deadly attack of the Indian base in the town of Uri by a group of militants, who entered India from Pakistan. The tensions have resulted in the escalation of violence at the border between the two nations, which has led to civilian casualties.
