The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): A recent report by the UK-based Guardian alleges that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has been involved in the targeted killings of 20 individuals in Pakistan since 2020. The report, citing anonymous Indian and Pakistani intelligence operatives, claims these actions are part of a broader Indian strategy to eliminate terrorists on foreign soil, particularly focusing on individuals linked to the Khalistan movement and other dissident activities.
According to the report, the operations were carried out by sleeper cells primarily based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), using local criminals and recruited jihadists to execute the killings. These claims are supported by what the Guardian describes as detailed documentation, though this evidence has not been independently verified.
Indian intelligence officials are quoted saying the shift in strategy was a response to the 2019 Pulwama attack, with a view to targeting threats outside India’s borders before they could materialize into attacks. The report also suggests that Indian intelligence has drawn inspiration from foreign agencies like Israel’s Mossad and Russia’s KGB, known for their extrajudicial actions abroad.
The Guardian’s article also touches on discussions within Indian intelligence circles that followed the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, indicating a reassessment of India’s external operational tactics.
Pakistani sources claim to have suspected India’s involvement due to various pieces of evidence, including witness accounts and financial transactions. However, Pakistan has reportedly been hesitant to openly address these incidents, as the targets were primarily affiliated with groups it has denied harboring.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has categorically denied these allegations, maintaining that such acts of targeted killing are not aligned with the government of India’s policies. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has previously emphasized that India does not engage in assassinations abroad, dismissing the claims as baseless anti-India propaganda.
