India, May 13 -- India on Tuesday expelled a staffer of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi for his alleged links with two people from Punjab who were arrested this week on charges of involvement in espionage, people familiar with the matter said.

A statement from the external affairs ministry said the government had declared the staffer of the Pakistani mission "persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India". The statement did not give further details of the matter.

The staffer was told to leave India within 24 hours, and the charge d'affaires of the Pakistan high commission, Saad Warraich, was issued a demarche or a formal diplomatic protest on this issue, the statement said.

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