India on Friday said Pakistan’s expulsion of Surjeet Singh, an official at its High Commission in Islamabad, was “completely baseless and unsubstantiated”, even as cross-border firing between forces of the two countries continued unabated across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Government notes with regret the Government of Pakistan’s decision to declare Surjeet Singh, Assistant Personnel and Welfare Officer in the High Commission of India in Islamabad, persona non grata and expel him and his family members. No justification has been provided by the Government of Pakistan except for the completely baseless and unsubstantiated allegation that his activities were not in keeping with diplomatic norms,” said an official statement of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Singh’s expulsion came the same day India ordered the removal of a Pakistan High Commission official Mehmood Akhtar on charges of espionage.

“The Government condemns Pakistan’s step. It is obvious that the step is an afterthought following yesterday’s (Thursday) apprehension of Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar in Delhi while indulging in anti-India activities. Pakistan’s action further confirms that it continues to be in denial of its anti-India activities, including cross-border terrorism,” the MEA statement said.

No casualties, says Pak Meanwhile, India on Friday claimed it had killed 15 Pakistani soldiers in cross-border firing. Pakistan, however, denied it had suffered casualties and termed the Indian claim “baseless and untrue”. “Indian claim is part of their propaganda campaign aimed to hide their losses at working boundary and also divert world attention from Kashmir issue,” the Pakistan government said in a statement.

Islamabad also summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh to condemn what it called unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces on October 27, resulting in the death of six civilians and injuries to twenty-two civilians.

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