Reports said that the Pakistan government is considering to recall four of its High Commission staff in New Delhi, following the disclosure of their names by the Indian government to media for allegedly involving in espionage activities.
Mehmood Akhtar, a staffer in the Pakistan High Commission was arrested last Thursday for carrying espionage activities. The Delhi police said that they have recovered documents related to Indian military operations from Akhtar when he was taken into custody near a Zoo in Delhi. Later on, the Indian government has released a video footage in which Mehmood confessed that he was sent to India by Pakistan’s ISI and revealed four other names from the High Commission, who helped him to carry espionage activities.
However, after returning to Pakistan, Mehmood Akhtar changed his stance during a conversation with the Pakistani media. He alleged that he was forced to repeat a piece of written document and added that he never indulged in espionage activities.
On the other hand, the families of the four staffers whose names have been made public by the Indian government expressed dissatisfaction over the Pakistan government for not responding to the Indian government’s actions. One of the victims said that her Children were being bullied in the school after the name of their father was made public. The victim blamed the Pakistan government for not taking any immediate action to safeguard the interests of the staff working in India. “It is a problem of life and death. Our government should react”, the victim said in a phone call to a TV channel in Pakistan.
With the pressure mounting on the Pakistan government, it is very likely that the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will recall the staff being reported by India as carrying espionage activities.
So far, the Delhi Police have arrested two persons in connection with Mehmood Akhtar for carrying espionage activities and are on a hunt for the third accused.