ISLAMABAD: Surjeet Singh, the expelled Indian High Commission official left the HC and returned to India on Friday night.

According to the Foreign Office, Singh, who was involved in improper activities, was declared as persona non grata by the government of Pakistan and was asked to leave the country.

The decision to expel Surjeet Singh had come a few hours after India decided to expel a Pakistani high commission staff member, Mehmood Akhtar, for “espionage activities”.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry conveyed the decision of the government to the Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale earlier this week.

During the meeting with Bambawale, Aizaz expressed deep concern over the activities of Singh that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and established diplomatic norms.

“The Foreign Secretary expressed deep concern over the activities of the Indian official that were in violation of the Vienna Convention and the established diplomatic norms,” said FO in a statement.

Tensions between Pakistan and India soared in recent weeks as India blamed Pakistan for an attack on an army base in the Uri sector of Indian-held Kashmir on September 18.

Pakistan has always denied the Indian allegations, saying New Delhi was trying to divert world’s attention from its own atrocities in the held Himalayan valley of Kashmir.

Since the attack, Indian and Pakistani troops regularly exchange fire across their de-facto border in Kashmir.