Kulbhushan Jadhav’s Arrest
Indian media outlets, including The Times of India and NDTV, have reported that martyred Baloch religious scholar Mufti Shah Mir Bizenjo played a significant role in the arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
According to these reports, Mufti Shah Mir allegedly assisted Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in tracking and capturing Jadhav.
The claims suggest that the scholar’s role was instrumental in what they describe as a covert operation. However, in line with India’s longstanding position, these media outlets have also alleged that Jadhav was not arrested in Pakistan but rather abducted from Iran.
They claim that Shah Mir was involved in the purported abduction, an accusation that Pakistan has consistently rejected, maintaining that Jadhav was arrested inside its territory while engaged in espionage and sabotage activities.
Mufti Shah Mir Bizenjo was a well-known religious scholar in Balochistan, widely respected for his influence in the region. He had survived two assassination attempts in the past, which were suspected to be linked to his outspoken views and possible intelligence connections.
However, on Friday night, he was tragically shot dead by unidentified assailants on motorcycles as he left a mosque in Turbat after Isha prayers. Witnesses reported that he sustained multiple close-range gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
In addition to linking him to Jadhav’s arrest, The Times of India has also accused Shah Mir of involvement in arms and human trafficking. NDTV echoed these allegations, further claiming that he maintained covert ties with the ISI.
The reports also suggested that the scholar facilitated the entry of militants into India, though no evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims.
The assassination of Mufti Shah Mir Bizenjo has sparked widespread speculation regarding the motives behind his killing. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, analysts believe his death may be linked to his alleged intelligence activities or longstanding tensions in Balochistan.
Pakistan has not officially responded to the allegations made by the Indian media, but security officials have described his assassination as part of a broader pattern of targeted attacks against influential figures in Balochistan.
The circumstances surrounding his death, coupled with these fresh allegations, add another layer of complexity to the already tense Pakistan-India relations.
