India, May 22 -- Pakistan on Thursday responded to India's expulsion of a staffer of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi on charges of involvement in espionage by expelling a staff member of the Indian mission in Islamabad.

These were the second tit-for-tat expulsions in a little more than a week amid heightened tensions between the two countries. Both countries had expelled a staffer each from their missions in each other's capitals on May 13.

On Wednesday evening, the Indian government declared a staffer of the Pakistan high commission "persona non grata" after he was found to be involved in spying, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

Pakistan responded at about 2.30 am IST by expelling a staff membe...