Pakistan expels Indian envoy
Pakistan has expelled the Indian envoy as it downgraded diplomatic ties and suspended bilateral trade relations with New Delhi, according to media reports.
Pakistan on Wednesday also announced it would call its ambassador back from India.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood confirmed the news to local media.
The move was undertaken in the aftermath of the Indian government ending special status for Jammu and Kashmir by scrapping Articles 35A and 370 of its Constitution.
It may be noted that the High Commissioner-designate of Islamabad to New Delhi is in Pakistan, and was scheduled to take charge on August 16.
The government of Pakistan put the informaton out on its Twitter handle.
"Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting of NSC at Prime Minister’s Office. Committee discussed situation arising out of unilateral & illegal actions by Indian govt, situation inside Indian Occupied J&K and along LOC. The Committee decided to take following actions:
1-Downgrading of diplomatic relations with India.
2-Suspension of bilateral trade with India.
3-Review of bilateral arrangements.
4-Matter to be taken to UN, including the Security Council.
5-14th of August to be observed in solidarity with brave
Kashmiris. #StandwithKashmir," it posted.
The National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Wednesday decided to review diplomatic ties with India in the aftermath of the Centre's Kashmir move.
"Our ambassadors will no longer be in New Delhi and their counterparts here will also be sent back," Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in televised comments soon after the NSC meeting.
Later, the Foreign Office in a statement said: "Pursuant to the decision of the National Security Committee today, the Government of India has been told to withdraw its High Commissioner to Pakistan."
It, however, did not give any time line for India to pull back its envoy.
"The Indian Government has also been informed that Pakistan will not be sending its High Commissioner-designate to India," the statement said.
Pakistan's new High Commissioner Moin-ul-Haq was expected to leave for India this month to take up his responsibilities.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan, addressing a joint session of the National Assembly, had said that Pulwama-like attacks could follow the revocation of the special status for Jammu and Kashmir, which can lead to a war between India and Pakistan.
"I can already predict this will happen. They will attempt to place the blame on us again. They may strike us again, and we will strike back," the cricketer-turned-politician told his country's Parliament.
Slamming the repeal of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Khan had called on the world to raise its voice "for the people of Indian-Administered Kashmir".
The last NSC meeting was held on August 4 to discuss India's "use of cluster ammunition to target the civilian population on the Pakistani side of Kashmir".
The Modi government on Monday revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
(with inputs from agencies)
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