Islamabad: Pakistan on January 22 described the expulsion of four of its High Commission officials by India as "an attempt to vitiate" the atmosphere and said it would decide on retaliatory action at an appropriate time.

As India kept up its protests over the treatment meted out to its charge d' affaires in Islamabad Sudhir Vyas, a car carrying Pakistani intelligence officials came "dangerously close" to the vehicle of the top Indian diplomat for the third successive day on January 22.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan told the state-owned television that "it is highly unfortunate" that India expelled four of his High Commission staffers in Delhi and it was "yet another attempt by India to vitiate the atmosphere".

Asked about any immediate retaliatory action, he said, "We will examine the situation and we will react in the best national interest when the time arises."

The news of the expulsion of the Pakistani diplomats from India came even as the Indian High Commission here lodged a fourth note verbale in as many days complaining of continued harassment of Vyas.

Indian High Commission officials said the fourth note complains of aggressive and intrusive surveillance by Pakistan intelligence officials whenever Vyas stepped out of his residence and the office.

A fleet of vehicles of Pakistani intelligence officials drove dangerously close to Vyas' flagged car, they said.

Diplomatic sources expect Pakistan to come up with some kind of retaliatory action on January 23.

Aziz Khan said the Indian action followed a pattern of events. "For the last one month India was harassing our diplomats. It was a very intrusive harassment. We have lodged a protest on January 7. We have not publicised it because we want to keep the situation calm and not increase tension," he said.

Accusing India of taking the "aggressive" action to expel the Pakistani mission staffers to derive political mileage at home, Khan said, "Obviously there appears to be a pattern to Indian allegations. Perhaps they want to derive some internal political advantage and dividends with heightened tensions with Pakistan."

He said India followed up with allegations harassment of its charge d affaires in Islamabad.

On January 18, Vyas said vehicles of Pakistan intelligence agencies blocked his car from moving out of his residence and after that they stopped his flagged car.

After the protest on January 19, Vyas said Pakistani intelligence officials' vehicles are following him by coming "dangerously close" his car.

Pakistan, Khan said, tried to lower tensions with India and attempted to solve all issues through peaceful means. "The international community is also calling for it. But unfortunately there has been no attempt to reduce the tensions from India."

PTI