Plug loopholes in internal security: JD (U) on Pak staffer arrest

Expressing serious concern over the arrest of a Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar for espionage charges, the Janata Dal (United) on Friday said the fault in India's internal security must be fixed with immediate effect, adding "such people should be thrown out of the country".

"It's a serious matter and there must be a proper probe. Four people have already been arrested..what about those who have not yet been arrested? The fault in our internal security needs to be fixed. The NIA and RAW should throw such people out of the nation," JD (U) spokesperson Ajay Alok told ANI.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) yesterday said Akhtar had been asked to leave India within 48 hours.

"Akhtar has been declared Persona Non-Grata and he, along with his family, has to leave India by Saturday. He stated that he had joined the Baloch regiment of the Pakistani Army in 1997. He came on deputation to the ISI in 2013. In fact, it was Mehmood Akhtar, who resorted to subterfuge by concealing his real identity. Akhtar was posted in September 2013 at the Pakistan High Commission, where he is currently working," MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media in New Delhi.

Responding to the allegation by Pakistan Foreign office about manhandling of Akhtar, Swarup said the staffer was treated with diplomatic courtesy.

Swarup said that Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar asked Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to restrain the staffers of the Commission from indulging in anti-India activities.

Basit, who was summoned by the Foreign Secretary, said India had intercepted Akhtar in the pursuit of espionage.

Following intelligence inputs relating to espionage on vital installations of the army and paramilitary forces, Akhtar was caught by the Delhi Police yesterday while receiving sensitive documents pertaining to India's national security from two persons hailing from Rajasthan.

Initially, Akhtar masqueraded as an Indian national and even produced a fake Aadhar card, but when confronted by the police, he admitted that he works in the Pakistan High Commission.

At his request, the High Commission was informed and he was handed over to the Commission's officials.

Akhtar also admitted that he is from the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army and came on deputation to the Inter Service Intelligence in 2013 and was posted in the Pakistan High Commission in September 2013.