RAW
Recent disclosures by intelligence officials from both India and Pakistan have stirred controversy, alleging that the Indian government orchestrated assassinations in Pakistan as part of a covert strategy to eliminate perceived threats abroad.
According to a report by the British media outlet Guardian, these assertions, backed by documents shared by Pakistani investigators, shed light on the alleged involvement of India’s foreign intelligence agency, the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), in carrying out targeted killings overseas.
Secret Operations of India:
Intelligence operatives’ testimonies suggest that the alleged assassinations, numbering up to 20 since 2020, were carried out by unidentified gunmen within Pakistan.
While prior suspicions have linked India to these incidents, this marks the first instance of Indian intelligence personnel openly discussing their purported role in Pakistan. The reported operations are said to have targeted individuals associated with militant groups, including Sikh separatists linked to the Khalistan movement.
Course of Action:
Pakistani investigators assert that Indian intelligence sleeper cells, primarily operating from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), played a pivotal role in orchestrating these killings.
The surge in targeted assassinations in 2023 is attributed to increased activity by these cells, allegedly incentivizing local criminals or economically disadvantaged Pakistanis to carry out the assassinations.
Additionally, Indian agents are accused of recruiting jihadists to execute the shootings, exploiting their extremist beliefs to manipulate them into participating in the killings.
Policy Shift:
The purported shift towards targeting dissidents abroad is believed to have been prompted by the Pulwama attack in 2019, where a suicide bomber targeted an Indian military convoy in Kashmir.
This attack, claimed by the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, reportedly spurred a strategic shift within India’s intelligence community, emphasizing proactive measures against perceived threats beyond the nation’s borders.
International Outcomes:
These allegations have drawn international scrutiny, particularly following similar accusations by Canada and the US against India regarding the killings of Sikh activists residing abroad.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as “false and malicious anti-India propaganda.” However, Pakistani intelligence agencies maintain that they possess evidence implicating Indian involvement in the alleged assassinations.
If substantiated, these allegations could significantly impact diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan, as well as with other nations where these purported covert operations occurred.
Moreover, the revelations raise ethical and legal concerns regarding extrajudicial killings and potential violations of international law.
