India on Thursday told a Pakistani diplomat to leave by Saturday for running a spy ring after he was caught receiving secret information about Indian military deployments from two Indians who were arrested. A third accomplice was caught later. Pakistan denied the espionage charges as “false and unsubstantiated”, alleging that Indian police “manhandled” Mehmood Akhtar, a visa officer at the Pakistan High Commission. His expulsion could deepen tensions between the two countries over Kashmir and cross-border terrorism. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to inform “that India had intercepted an official of the High Commission in the pursuit of espionage and that he was being declared persona non grata”.