India on Wednesday expelled four staffers of the Pakistan high commission, including two diplomats, for indulging in activities beyond their diplomatic status, an euphemism for spying.

The officials are Counsellor Mansoor Saeed Sheikh, First Secretary Mian Mohammed Esif, and staffers Mohammed Tasneem Khan and Sher Mohammed.

India has declared all the four persons non-grata and asked the Pakistan government to withdraw them within 48 hours.

The decision was conveyed to Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires Jalil Abbas Jilani who was summoned to the foreign office.

Asked whether this was a retaliatory move by India for the harassment of its CDA in Islamabad Sudhir Vyas by Pakistani intelligence officials on Tuesday, an Ministry of External Affairs spokesman said, "This is based on evidence we have that they were indulging in activities incompatible with their official status."

He however refused to name the charges levied against the Pakistani officials.