New Delhi: Indian authorities have caught two employees of Pakistani High Commission for espionage. The officials were under the radar of the authorities for a long time and were caught while procuring sensitive data about India. Also Read: Two Pakistan High Commission Officials Caught Spying Posed As 'Businessmen'
Who are the spies?
Abid Hussain and Muhammad Tahir were apprehended by Indian authorities for espionage activities. According to reports by agencies, Hussain belongs to the Punjab province of Pakistan while Tahir who is his colleague is from Islamabad. Both work for the Pakistani High Commission while the former worked as an assistant in the Department of Trade the latter is an upper-division clerk. Both revealed their connection to the Pakistani spy agency ISI during interrogation.
How were they caught?
According to reports Hussain and Tahir were caught when they were taking sensitive documents of Indian security establishments from an Indian. Their modus operandi involves paying money and gifts to the informant. They would even use mobile wallets such as Paytm for payment. This time they were caught when they were handing over money and iPhone to the person supplying the documents. The operation to catch the spies was done jointly by Military Intelligence, Special and Information Bureau.
Reports also say that they have been working at the High Commission for the last two years. Along with them, their driver Javed Akhtar who used to drive them to their ‘missions’ was also arrested. Akhtar is from Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan.
What has been done?
According to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs, 'the government has declared both these officials persona non grata for indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission' and has expelled them from India. They have been asked to leave within twenty-four hours. India also lodged a strong protest about the activities of these officials of the High Commission and has asked Pakistan’s Charge de Affaires to ensure that no member of its diplomatic mission should indulge in activities that can be considered as inimical to India or incompatible with their diplomatic status. Pakistan has denied the charges on its officials and said that the allegations are baseless. According to a report by PTI Pakistan has said that the action was aimed at shrinking diplomatic space for the working of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi.
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