Expelled Indian diplomat returns home

Wagah, Aug 7 (UNI) Expelled Indian diplomat Deepak Kaul returned to India this evening through this road border check post, official sources here said.

Mr Kaul crossed over into Indian territory at 1815 hours in a vehicle belonging to the Indian High Commission at Islamabad. He was accompanied by the driver and another High Commission offical.

After a brief halt at the check post, the vehicle sped towards Amritsar. Senior Border Security Force (BSF) officals were present at the check post when the diplomat arrived.

Mr Kaul, posted at Islamabad, was arrested and detained while he was going to receive his family members on Saturday last. He was declared persona non grata and ordered to leave Pakistan within 48 hours, following his release after five hours in detention.

Pakistan alleged that Mr Kaul was in possession of some important documentsm and charged of indulging in ''activities imcompatible to his diplomatic status''.

India had expressed anger and warned Pakistan that Mr Kaul or any other member of the Indian High Comission in Islamabad should not be harmed.

UNI XC-HS SHB ND1924