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Pakistan expels Indian diplomats
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan has ordered four employees of the Indian High Commission to leave the country -- a move thought to be in response to India's expulsion of Pakistani diplomats on Wednesday. The three diplomats and one official have been given 48 hours to leave Pakistan after they were accused of conduct unbecoming of a diplomat. The term is usually a polite reference for spying. The Indian officials -- Counsellor Vipin Handa, Second Secretary R.P. Singh, Attache Vakil Ramdas, and staff member P.H. Sundaram -- were all declared personae-non-grata by the Pakistani government, according to a statement from the Pakistani foreign ministry. On Wednesday India ordered two high-ranking diplomats and two officials at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi to leave the country. They were given their marching orders after also being accused of "activities incompatible with their diplomatic status." War of wordsFor several days, India has accused the Pakistan of harassing its high commissioner in Islamabad, including having his car followed and seeking to intimidate him. Pakistan says its diplomats have also faced harassment from intelligence officials in New Delhi. Tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats are not uncommon between India and Pakistan. However, the latest round comes against a background of verbal sparring over each side's weapons purchases and military prowess. Pakistan has condemned a series of recent Indian missile tests, accusing New Delhi of trying to start an arms race in the South Asian region. For its part India has warned Pakistan over what it views as Islamabad's threats to use nuclear weapons. Earlier this month Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes said that if any conflict between the two countries were to go nuclear, India would be able to absorb a few hits whereas Pakistan would "cease to exist."
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