LAHORE, Feb 10: Pakistan’s acting high commissioner to India, Jaleel Abbas Jilani, has termed Indian allegations against him and four other officials shameful and baseless, saying these were aimed at winning public sympathy for elections in several Indian states, maligning Pakistan and the peaceful freedom movement in the held Kashmir.

Mr Jilani, who was expelled by India along with four others on Sunday, was talking to reporters after crossing the Wagah border here on Monday night. He was received by foreign ministry officials, a contingent of the Rangers and his relatives.

One diplomat is in Saudi Arabia to perform Haj, while three others — Mohammad Nazeer, Abdur Razzaq and Aftab Ahmad — reached Wagah along with their families earlier in the day.

Indian Charge d’Affaires Mr Sudhir Vyas and four other officials who were expelled by Pakistan in a tit-for-tat response also crossed the Wagah border.

“This is just tit-for-tat. There is no hope of improvement in relations between the two countries in the presence of infiltration. Indian attitude could be changed provided Pakistan stops cross-border infiltration,” Mr Vyas said while talking to reporters before he left Pakistan.

Mr Jilani, who arrived at Wagah alone, said India had been disrupting all efforts by Pakistan to get a negotiated resolution of all disputes between the two countries. But, he added, ultimately it would have to agree to come to talks for peace with Pakistan and in the region.

He said all allegations against him and other officials were absurd and unfortunately were part of past few years’ Indian policy to defame Pakistan, portray the peaceful freedom struggle in the held Kashmir as a terrorist movement and create hatred among Indians against Islamabad to gain their sympathies for the ruling party for winning elections in different Indian states.

Mr Jilani said before levelling the latest allegations Indian secret agencies were harassing Pakistan high commission officials for the last two months.

“Regretfully, India has levelled baseless allegations against the head of a mission for the first time. And their falseness is exposed by the mere fact that one accused Pakistani official is in Saudi Arabia to perform Haj,” he said.

Pakistan had been trying especially during the past one year to seek a negotiated resolution of all disputes with India. But unfortunately the Indian ruling party was trying to keep tension level high to gain at the domestic political front, he said.