Spy war chills Indo-Pakistani ties

Spy war chills Indo-Pakistani ties

NEW DELHI (AFP): The tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats by India and Pakistan have plunged ties between the two countries to a new low and dimmed hopes for a resumption of talks on a code of conduct for diplomatic personnel, officials here said yesterday.

Pakistan ordered out a second Indian diplomat on Tuesday, just hours after India announced the expulsion of a second Pakistani embassy official.

Both sides traded charges that the expelled diplomats were "conducting activities not compatible with their status" -- official jargon for espionage -- and lodged counter-protests.

Despite the expulsions, India on Tuesday revived an offer to hold talks at joint secretary level on the implementation of a code of conduct for diplomats of the two countries, officials here said.