AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
London, The Guardian reported that the Indian government has been involved in the targeted killing of individuals in Pakistan, as per Indian and Pakistani intelligence officials. The report, citing sources from both nations and documents from Pakistani investigators, reveals a new dimension of India’s national security strategy, allegedly directed by the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office since 2019. This approach includes the assassination of terrorists and dissidents abroad, with nearly 20 killings in Pakistan since 2020 linked to these operations.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the investigation unveiled that the killings, which targeted individuals charged with terrorism and activists within the Sikh Khalistan movement, were orchestrated by Indian intelligence cells, primarily operating from the United Arab Emirates. The report outlines that these cells recruited local criminals and jihadists in Pakistan to execute the assassinations, under the guise of killing “infidels,” requiring direct approval from the highest levels of the Indian government. The Guardian’s sources highlighted that the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 was referenced in discussions among Indian intelligence officials as a precedent for such actions.
Pakistani intelligence officials, based on evidence including witness testimonies, financial records, and communications, claim that these operations were meticulously planned, with coordination from the UAE. Payments amounting to millions of rupees were made to execute the killings, with operations also reported in Nepal, the Maldives, and Mauritius. Cases such as the killing of Zahid Akhund in Karachi and Shahid Latif reveal the elaborate planning and international coordination behind these alleged assassinations.
The revelations have stirred international concern, as they suggest a policy of extrajudicial killings by India on foreign soil, raising serious questions about the conduct of state-sponsored operations beyond its borders. This report comes amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, with both nations having a history of accusing each other of harboring and supporting terrorist activities. The international community is closely monitoring these developments, as they could have significant implications for regional security and diplomatic relations.