Two employees of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan were “arrested” on Monday in a “hit-and-run case’’ after they were reported missing in the morning.

The incident triggered speculation of Islamabad taking reciprocal action to New Delhi’s decision late last month to expel two employees of Pakistan’s mission here on charges of espionage.

Both the non-diplomatic staff members were released at night and returned to the mission after the external affairs ministry intervened.

Earlier, in the afternoon, Pakistan’s Charge d’ Affaires — deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah — was summoned to the ministry where India made it clear that there should be no interrogation or harassment of the Indians. “The responsibility for the safety and security of the concerned diplomatic personnel lay squarely with the Pakistani authorities,’’ sources said.