Operation Sindoor LIVE: Pak official expelled; asked to leave in 24 hours
Though the MEA did not divulge specific charges against the Pakistani national, it is learnt that they are related to a case of espionage
India on Tuesday (May 13) expelled a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan High Commission for allegedly indulging in alleged espionage.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the official was indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India and that he has been given 24 hours to leave the country.
The action came amid heightened tension between the two countries following their four-day military confrontation.
India also issued a demarche to Pakistani Charge d' Affaires in New Delhi on the activities of the official.
Spying angle?
Though the MEA did not divulge the specific charges against the Pakistani national, it is learnt that they are related to a case of espionage being probed by Punjab Police. "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 MEA said.
"The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge d' Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today," it said.
Punjab Police on Sunday said it has arrested two persons, including a woman, for their alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani official posted at the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi.
Based on credible intelligence, a suspect was arrested for leaking sensitive information to a Pakistan-based handler regarding Indian Army movements, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said.
The development came days after Amritsar Rural Police arrested two persons -- Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih -- for their alleged role in leaking sensitive information and photographs of the Army Cantonment areas and air bases to Pakistan's intelligence agency, according local officials.
Yadav said the accused had been receiving payments through online transactions in exchange for sharing classified information.
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- 13 May 2025 7:30 PM IST
Gujarat govt employee arrested for 'objectionable' post on Operation Sindoor
A Gujarat government employee was arrested in Botad district for allegedly posting "objectionable" content on a social media platform related to 'Operation Sindoor', an official said on Tuesday.
The accused has been identified as Kripal Patel (27), posted as talati-cum-mantri - a class-3 post in the state panchayat department - at Dhrufaniya village, he said.
"During the monitoring of social media platforms, the district cyber team came across an objectionable post on X, made by Patel," Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Maharshi Raval said.
"The Cyber police nabbed him as his social media post regarding the surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army on terrorists under Operation Sindoor was found to be detrimental to national unity and creating fear and panic among the citizens of India," he said.
A case was registered at the Cyber Crime police station at Botad under sections 353(2) and 197(1)(d) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on Monday, he said.
The accused lived at Gadhada in the district and hails from Ahmedabad city, the DySP said.
- 13 May 2025 7:24 PM IST
Despite ceasefire schools in several Punjab districts remain shut
Even after guns fell silent on both sides of the LoC with India and Pakistan reaching a ceasefire agreement, educational institutions in some districts of Punjab remained shut as a precautionary measure. The step has been taken even though there has been a semblance of normalcy in the some border areas of the state in the past two days.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to cease all firing and military actions on land, air, and sea with immediate effect following four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes that brought the two countries to the brink of full-scale war.
Schools in five border districts of Punjab -- Amritsar, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Tarn Taran -- remained closed on Tuesday as a precautionary measure, said officials.
However, schools in Gurdaspur, which is Punjab's sixth border district, and Sangrur and Barnala reopened on Tuesday and classes will begin in schools in Amritsar and Tarn Taran Wednesday.
In Pathankot and Amritsar, colleges and universities also remain shut on Tuesday, the officials said. However, authorities in Amritsar said universities and colleges can take classes online.
Schools in Ferozepur, Fazilka, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur districts, that lie on the border with Pakistan, remained shut on Monday as well.
- 13 May 2025 7:13 PM IST
Major exercise in Jammu and Kashmir's border villages to clear unexploded shells
The bomb disposal squads of Army and police are undertaking a major exercise in Jammu and Kashmir's border villages to defuse the unexploded artillery and mortar shells fired by Pakistan.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said they are monitoring the situation and will facilitate the return of the displaced border residents after getting clearance from the security agencies and will also ensure early compensation to those whose houses were damaged in the indiscriminate shelling on civilian areas.
The officials said dozens of unexploded explosives were destroyed by the experts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts and along the International Border in Jammu and Samba which witnessed intense cross-border shelling and drone attacks from May 7 to May 10.
The intensity in the shelling from Pakistan intensified on May 7 after the India armed forces carried out missile strikes at nine terror targets across the border under Operation Sindoor in retaliation to Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that had left 26 persons, mostly tourists, dead.
The ceasefire violations from Pakistan had started from north Kashmir immediately after the Pahalgam terror attack and extended to the areas along the LoC and IB in Jammu division, prompting effective retaliation by Indian troops before the deadly four-day-long clashes.
As many as 28 persons were killed and over 50 others injured in the cross-border shelling which also forced over 2 lakh border residents to move out and take refuge at safer places. A good number of them have already returned to their villages over the past three days.
- 13 May 2025 6:15 PM IST
Foreign leaders acknowledged India's right to defend itself: MEA
"After the Pahalgam terror attack, it became clear once again that the epicentre of terrorism is across the border in terrorism. Several foreign leaders we spoke to admitted that India has the right to defend itself," says MEA.
- 13 May 2025 6:09 PM IST
New Normal: The sooner Pakistan gets it, the better it is, says MEA
#WATCH | Delhi: On the latest statement made by the Pakistan Foreign Office, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have seen the statement made by the Pakistani side. That a nation which has nurtured terrorism on an industrial scale should think that it can escape the… pic.twitter.com/PlvvFQ4sCn
— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025 - 13 May 2025 6:02 PM IST
Trade isue did not feature in Indo-US talks on Operation Sindoor: MEA
"From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on 10th May, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation. The issue of trade did not come up in any of these discussions," says MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
- 13 May 2025 6:01 PM IST
India's action was totally in the conventional domain : MEA
"The military action from our side was entirely in the conventional domain. Pakistan Foreign Minister has himself denied the nuclear blackmail. India has made it clear that it will not succumb to nuclear blackmail," says MEA.
