India funding militants

Pakistan yesterday accused old foe India of funding militant groups, a day after the nuclear-armed neighbours said they would expel half the other's embassy staff for the first time in nearly two decades.

Tuesday's announcement of planned expulsions followed weeks of accusations and counter-accusations including espionage and the harassment of rival diplomats as relations plummet.

"India has fomented terrorism inside Pakistan by providing training, financial and material support to terrorist groups," Aisha Farooqi, spokeswoman for Pakistan's foreign ministry, said in a statement, following a failed attempt to blacklist an Indian citizen at the United Nations for allegedly providing funding to banned militant groups.

India has frequently levelled identical accusations at Pakistan.

Former officials in both countries said the move could eventually lead to the closure of the embassies altogether.

"I see a further downsizing embassy strengths of the two countries in the coming months," said Brahma Chellaney, a political analyst at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research and a former Indian national security adviser. "India is even ready to cut diplomatic ties if things continue the way they are."

In August 2019, Pakistan suspended almost all trade and transport ties with India after New Delhi revoked autonomy and statehood of Kashmir .

With the latest expulsions, relations are now at an all-time low, said Asif Yasin Malik, a retired Pakistani general and former defence secretary. "They are as bad as they can be," he said. "It is possible we will break diplomatic relations altogether."