- The recent tit-for-tat expulsions underscore the mistrust and hostility between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, fuelled by allegations of espionage and broader geopolitical frictions.
- Such pronouncements tend to reflect very deep mistrust, even in unprecedented, turbulent times: election cycles, terrorist attacks, and military-associated events.
- The expulsions illustrate how challenging it is for countries to maintain even the most rudimentary level of diplomacy.
India and Pakistan’s bilateral relations have now come to another low with the recent swap of declarations of ‘persona non grata’ with each other’s staff. The phrase “persona non grata”, meaning unwelcome person, is often said in diplomacy when foreign diplomats or diplomats are expelled from a country for conduct that violates their position. The recent tit-for-tat expulsions, reported widely on May 13-14, 2025, underscore the ongoing mistrust and hostility between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, fuelled by allegations of espionage and broader geopolitical frictions.
The Recent Diplomatic Row
On May 13, 2025, India’s Ministry of External Affairs declared an official in the Pakistan High Commission to be “persona non grata” for “conduct not befitting his status”.[1] Pakistan then received a formal demarche to the Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi explaining that the behaviour of the High Commission official was subject to a strong denunciation.
On May 14, 2025, in turn, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared an official in the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, to also be “persona non grata” for “conduct not consistent with his privileged status”. Whatever Pakistan had done in full justifying criticism of the actions of the Charge d’Affaires for a country that professes itself to be a friend to Pakistan, was preceded by a démarche from Pakistan, which sought the departure of the Indian High Commission official in twenty-four hours after they publicly criticized the conduct of the Charge d’Affaires. Most would regard it as at least a tit-for-tat act by Pakistan after India’s actions, although Pakistan did not share any information regarding the Indian High Commission official’s conduct, even though it appears to have asked for the same of the Diplomat in Pakistan.
Understanding “Persona Non Grata”
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, the basis for internationally recognised diplomatic behaviour, is where we adopted the concept “persona non grata”. Under Article 9, a host country can declare a foreign diplomat “persona non grata” at any point; it does not even have to provide a detailed explanation, and without cause to leave within an extended period. This option is reserved for serious crimes such as espionage, meddling to the extent of a state’s affairs, or anything that crosses into diplomatic offence.
Such language is not out of the ordinary and is laden with symbolic significance in the India-Pakistan context. Such pronouncements tend to reflect very deep mistrust, even in unprecedented, turbulent times: election cycles, terrorist attacks, and military-associated events.
Context of the Current Tensions
The most recent diplomatic incident is occurring at a time when the pause in hostilities between Pakistan and India is tenuous, after four days of furious fighting, which was mutually agreed on May 12, 2025. The operative event for the conflict was India’s counter-terrorism operation, Operation Sindoor, which occurred on May 7, on terror launchpads, including Pakistan’s terror-oriented centres connected to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad. This conflict was triggered by what Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi deemed the “cruel face of terrorism” in the attack at Pahalgam.
India’s precision strikes on Pakistani military targets like the Rahim Yar Khan Airbase and the Nur Khan Airbase ratcheted up the tensions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi rebuked Pakistan by saying India will not tolerate “nuclear blackmail” on May 12, 2025, emphasising that if terror attacks occurred again on Indian soil, then India will strike back on its terms.
Historical Precedents
India and Pakistan both have resorted to “persona non grata” declarations many times before. India expelled a Pakistani diplomat in 2016 on similar accusations of spying, as did Pakistan. The timing of the episode now, following a military operation and at a time of international interest in the hostility between the two states, is notable. The diplomatic ramifications grow increasingly complex following the Pahalgam terror attack, which bears clear indications of cross-border terrorism with ties to Pakistan.[2]
Conclusion
The “persona non grata” comments in India and Pakistan’s statements are not simply diplomatic gestures; they are also manifestations of a continuing, more deeply structural hostility, still evident in their relationship. The expulsions illustrate how challenging it is for countries to maintain even the most rudimentary level of diplomacy. Historic pressures, the security context in which these states find themselves and a shared uncomfortable fear of miscalculation continue to foreshadow their destinies. As the world watches, the India-Pakistan rivalry remains a volatile fault line, where even a single diplomat’s actions can ignite broader tensions.
References:
- [1] https://www.mea.gov.in/pressreleases.htm?dtl/39494/Pakistani_official_declared_persona_non_grata
- [2] https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2128748
Megna Devkar is a Ph.D. Research Scholar at K.C. Law College with research and writing expertise in social, political, and legal issues. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Aayush Pal 
Abhinav Sharma