Spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nafees Zakaria confirmed on Wednesday that Islamabad had withdrawn at least four diplomatic representatives from India.
Indian police have announced that they had dismantled a Pakistani spy network and detained a staff member of the Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi on suspicion of espionage. Media reports have emerged that the detained diplomat had read a list of four other Pakistani diplomats, who allegedly had ties with Pakistan's intelligence services. According to media reports, Islamabad later withdrew six diplomats from India.
Tensions have been simmering between India and Pakistan after a deadly attack on the Uri military base in the India-administered Kashmir in September. New Delhi has accused Islamabad of backing terrorism in the disputed region, but Pakistan denied any role in insurgency.