Pakistan has ordered an Indian High Commission official to leave the country within 24 hours, declaring him persona non grata for actions deemed “inconsistent with his diplomatic status.”
The Indian Chargé d’Affaires was summoned to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday to be formally notified of the decision. In its official statement, the Foreign Office emphasized that no member of the Indian High Commission should exploit diplomatic privileges or act beyond their official capacity.
The expulsion comes shortly after India ordered a Pakistani diplomat based in New Delhi to leave on similar grounds, further straining already tense relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
India had summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires and delivered a demarche, demanding that Pakistani diplomats in India refrain from engaging in activities beyond their diplomatic roles.
Khuzdar School Bus Attack: Rising Tensions
These diplomatic expulsions follow a deadly suicide attack in Khuzdar, Balochistan, where a vehicle packed with over 30 kg of explosives rammed into a school bus transporting students to the Army Public School in the cantonment area. The attack claimed the lives of at least six people, including three children, and left dozens injured.
The Pakistani military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), blamed the assault on Indian-backed proxies operating in Balochistan, particularly the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The ISPR accused India of using such groups to destabilize Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also denounced the attack, linking it to separatist insurgents supported by India and using Afghanistan as a base of operations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior military officials visited Quetta following the attack for an emergency briefing. The premier condemned the bombing, offered condolences to victims’ families, and vowed accountability for those involved. He also underscored the need for a thorough probe into Indian involvement.
Global Reaction
The attack has triggered strong international condemnation. The United States expressed deep sorrow, with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker stating, “No child should ever fear going to school.”
China also condemned the bombing. Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong offered condolences and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in its counterterrorism efforts, stating, “China firmly opposes terrorism in all forms.”
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) called the incident a serious violation of international humanitarian law and urged for lawful action against the perpetrators, while also calling for peaceful solutions to the long-standing unrest in Balochistan.
Escalating Hostilities Between Pakistan and India
Tensions between Pakistan and India have been escalating since April 22, when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan, a claim Islamabad strongly denied.
In retaliation, India undertook several aggressive diplomatic and strategic actions on April 23, including:
- Suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)
- Cancelling visas for Pakistani nationals
- Shutting down the Wagah-Attari border crossing
- Ordering the closure of Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi
- Reducing diplomatic staff on both sides
Matters worsened on May 7 when Indian missile strikes reportedly hit six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens, including women and children.
Pakistan responded by shooting down Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets. The conflict intensified again on May 10, when India launched fresh missile strikes on several Pakistani airbases. Pakistan retaliated with Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging key Indian military facilities, including missile storage sites and airbases.
Later that day, a ceasefire was brokered through urgent international diplomacy. US President Donald Trump announced the truce, which was quickly confirmed by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and India’s Foreign Secretary.
