Expelling "Spy Diplomat": Are we back to the old days?

CNN: August 5, 2006;
Pakistan expels 'spy' diplomat
Consular official 'caught with documents'

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistan on Saturday expelled an Indian diplomat for allegedly indulging in "undesirable activities," a Pakistani government official said.

India later expelled a Pakistani diplomat, an Indian news agency reported.

Deepak Kaul, a visa councilor at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, was caught by Pakistani agents "red-handed with sensitive documents," the Pakistani government official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

"We have evidence that he indulged in undesirable activities," the official told The Associated Press, adding that Kaul was detained while en route to the eastern city of Lahore.

The official said Kaul had "received sensitive documents from his source," but he refused go into details.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry confirmed Kaul's expulsion.

"Deepak Kaul has been asked to leave Pakistan next week," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said, adding that Kaul was "caught red-handed" and that he has been handed over to the Indian High Commission.

T.C.A. Raghawan, deputy high commissioner at the Indian mission, confirmed that Kaul has been ordered to leave, but denied he was involved in any unlawful activity.

"We reject these allegations," he told the AP.

Raghawan said Kaul was seized as he traveled to Lahore by road.

"His car was intercepted not far away from Islamabad. He was handcuffed and held for five hours," he said.

Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations, and the expulsions were likely to increase tension between the two nuclear-armed countries, which have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.

Last month, New Delhi postponed the scheduled July 20- 22 peace talks with Pakistan following Bombay train bombings after accusing that perpetrators of the attacks had support from this Islamic nation.

Pakistan rejected the allegation, and said it was ready to cooperate with India to probe the blasts.

New Delhi rejected the offer, and since then Pakistan and India have not set any fresh dates to resume the peace talks, which began in 2004 and have helped improve relations between the two neighbors.

In 2003, Pakistan and India had expelled each other's several diplomats over similar allegations.

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