India arrests diplomat for ‘spying for Pakistan’

India has arrested a woman working as a diplomat in its Islamabad embassy on charges of spying for Pakistan.

Madhuri Gupta, 53, is a second secretary in the embassy and works in the press and information section. She was arrested on a work trip to Delhi.

Officials say she is suspected of handing over classified documents to Pakistan’s ISI intelligence service.

There was no immediate response from Pakistan. The neighbours have a history of mistrust and have fought three wars.

Police custody

An investigation has begun and Ms Gupta is co-operating, the Indian ministry of external affairs spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.

“A number of inquiries have been held and a number of questions have been asked,” Mr Prakash said.

“We have reasons to believe an official in the Indian high commission in Pakistan has been passing information to Pakistani intelligence officials.”

The Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency, quoting sources, said Ms Gupta had been arrested four days ago after being summoned to Delhi on the pretext of discussing a regional summit being held in Bhutan this week.

She was produced in court on Monday and has been sent to police custody for another five days, PTI said.

Ms Gupta has worked in Islamabad for three years, reports say.

The head of India’s intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) in Islamabad is also being investigated, PTI reports.