In a significant crackdown, Pakistani authorities have arrested ten individuals allegedly linked to India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), dismantling what officials describe as a foreign-sponsored espionage and terrorist network operating in Karachi and Punjab.
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Punjab CTD Arrests Six RAW Facilitators
The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) announced the arrest of six Pakistani nationals accused of aiding RAW in planning terrorist activities across the province. The arrests were made during coordinated raids in multiple districts, including Toba Tek Singh, Bahawalpur, and Bahawalnagar.
At a joint press conference in Lahore, Punjab Additional Inspector General (Operations) Shehzada Sultan and CTD SSP (Operations) Waqar Azim revealed that explosives, detonators, and confidential maps were seized from the suspects.
Key findings from the investigation include:
- A RAW facilitator in Bahawalpur was receiving funds via Dubai through cryptocurrency and informal banking channels.
- Two suspects in Bahawalnagar were allegedly procuring Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) directly from India’s Border Security Force (BSF).
- Intercepted communications implicated two RAW officers—Major Ravindra Rathore and Inspector Singh—in plotting attacks on a mosque and a railway station in Bahawalpur.
Additional IG Sultan stated that the suspects were part of a broader network funded by RAW to carry out targeted killings and sabotage sensitive locations in Pakistan.
Karachi SIU Detains Four RAW Operatives
In a separate operation, Karachi’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) arrested four alleged RAW agents from the Quaidabad area. The suspects—identified as Muhammad Khan Bariyo (alias Guloo), Akhtar, Jameen Mullah (alias Jaman), and Ghulam Qadir (alias Akash)—were accused of espionage on military and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) sites.
According to SIU Superintendent Muhammad Shoaib Memon:
- The prime suspect, Muhammad Khan, had been in contact with RAW and BSF’s Colonel Ranjeet since 2009.
- The suspects provided sensitive information, including geo-tagged photos of military installations, troop deployments, and even a Pakistan Army training manual.
- They allegedly traveled to India via sea routes, reporting to BSF’s Camp No. 59 in exchange for money, liquor, and cigarettes.
Authorities recovered four hand grenades, rifles, pistols, and stolen vehicles from the suspects. Their mobile phones contained incriminating evidence, including WhatsApp communications with Indian handlers.
Ongoing Investigations
Both the CTD and SIU emphasized that further investigations are underway to uncover additional elements of the espionage network. Cases have been registered under anti-terrorism and anti-nationalism laws.
Officials described the arrests as a major success in countering foreign-sponsored terrorism and safeguarding national security.
