New Delhi, May 21 (UNI) India on Wednesday declared a Pakistani High Commission official here as "persona non grata" for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status.

In a media release, the Ministry of External Affairs said the official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours.

"The Government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India. The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours," the media release said.

India also issued a demarche to the Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission here asking him to "strictly ensure that none of the Pakistani diplomats or officials in India misuse their privileges and status in any manner".

The latest development in the already embittered relations between the two neighbouring countries comes around a week after they declared one official of each other "persona non grata".

On May 13 night, an official in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi was declared "persona non grata by India after being found involved in spying activities.

The official was ordered to leave India within 24 hours.

A little later, Pakistan, in a tit-for-tat move, did the same with regard to an official of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, accusing him of engaging in activities incompatible with his privileged status. The official was directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours. UNI AKK SSP