News Analysis |
Pakistan is fully aware of the threats emanating from hostile intelligence agencies especially Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), against the country and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The Chairman Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee, Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat, said this while speaking as the chief guest at a ceremony of the 107th Midshipmen commissioning term and 16th Short Service Commission Course at the Pakistan Naval Academy outside Karachi on Saturday.
He said these foreign intelligence agencies are operating from Afghanistan and other locations to create unrest in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan.
Former Defence Secretary Gen (retd) Alam Khattak had said last year that RAW has established a special cell at its Head Quarters in New Delhi to sabotage CPEC and the plan is executed via Afghanistan.
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RAW and its clandestine operations inside Pakistan
The apprehension of a spy, who happens to be a senior military officer, was indeed an unprecedented success for the Pakistan’s intelligence agencies
On 3rd March 2016, Kulbhushan Jadhav, a serving commander in the Indian Navy working for RAW, was arrested from Baluchistan. His arrest increased Pakistan’s fears of Indian involvement in its internal affairs. The apprehension of a spy, who happens to be a senior military officer, was indeed an unprecedented success for the Pakistan’s intelligence agencies with some even comparing it to the capture of American U2 pilot, Gary Powers, by the Soviets.
However, for some unknown reasons, the Pakistani leadership was slow to capitalize on this accomplishment. Neither the Prime Minister nor the Foreign Office issued any tangible statement condemning Indian involvement in terrorism inside Pakistan.
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India has embassy and consulates in Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad, Kandahar, and Mazar-e-Sharif. It is through these consulates, Pakistan’s officials allege, that India oversees its subversive activities inside Pakistan, particularly in FATA and Baluchistan.
The US invasion of Afghanistan provided an opportunity to India to ingress into Afghan institutions. From construction companies to academia, and military to Afghan intelligence, India enjoys unprecedented influence. Unfortunately for Pakistan, the ties between it and Afghanistan have failed to materialize into a meaningful relationship.
India has embassy and consulates in Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad, Kandahar, and Mazar-e-Sharif. It is through these consulates, Pakistan’s officials allege, that India oversees its subversive activities inside Pakistan, particularly in FATA and Baluchistan.
On May 26, 2016, Baluchistan’s Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced the arrest of six NDS spies from Pishin and condemned the role of NDS in sabotaging the CPEC project and spreading terrorism. Mr. Jadhav also exposed the modus operandi of RAW in Pakistan. He uncovered the role of India in supporting banned outfits like BLA, BLF, and BRA in collaboration with NDS.
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Kulbhushan Jadhav used Chabahar as a base for his spy operations. Pakistani intelligence agencies lured Kulbhushan Jadhav out of Chabahar and into Pakistan where he was arrested. Moreover, Mullah Mansoor, the late Afghan Taliban leader who was killed in a drone strike in Baluchistan also traveled from Iran to Pakistan. Finally, gangster Uzair Baloch has been slated to be working for Iranian spy agencies by Pakistani officials who subsequently have referred his case to military court.
Mr. Jadhav also exposed the modus operandi of RAW in Pakistan. He uncovered the role of India in supporting banned outfits like BLA, BLF, and BRA in collaboration with NDS.
Iran has always denied carrying out spy operations inside Pakistan but the facts suggest otherwise. It is no secret that Iran views the CPEC project as a threat to its own Chabahar port project. Its cooperation with India is also well known. Proofs of Iranian involvement in training young Pakistani Shiites and sending them to Syria have already been provided to Iran.
Pakistan still considers Iran a friend but the proxy war waged by foreign agencies in Baluchistan and appointment of Gen. Raheel Sharif as the head of Islamic Military Alliance headquartered in Riyadh will damage this feeble relationship.
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Pakistan’s response to clandestine operations
The arrest of Commander Kulbhusah Jadhav in 2016 led to the disclosure of various sleeper cells across the entire length of Pakistan which were clamped down upon.
Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have conducted a number of successful counterintelligence operations. The arrest of Commander Kulbhusah Jadhav in 2016 led to the disclosure of various sleeper cells across the entire length of Pakistan which were clamped down upon. Intelligence operatives have also uncovered various NDS sleeper cells leading to the arrest of many Afghan intelligence operatives.
Operation Radd ul Fasaad is a serious effort involving intelligence borne surgical actions to capture or kill terrorists and foreign agents in Pakistan. Coordination between various security agencies inside Pakistan has increased but more efforts need to be undertaken to overcome the threats posed by foreign spy agencies. All this is central to eliminating the menace of terrorism for the nefarious network of spies facilitates, trains, and gives much-needed succor to militant outfits operating against Pakistan.