KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies have dismantled what they describe as a “major network” of India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), operating in Karachi and other cities.
Senior Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officials announced the arrests of six suspects linked to targeted killings, terrorist plots, and espionage activities.
At a press briefing held at the Central Police Office, Additional IGP CTD Azaad Khan, DIG CTD Azfar Mahesar, and SSP CTD Irfan Bahadur said the network had been receiving financial and operational backing from RAW handlers based overseas.
The group was allegedly behind the May 18 assassination of Abdul Rehman, a local philanthropist and landlord in Matli, Badin district. Investigators said the suspects conducted surveillance of the victim for five days before carrying out the attack. According to police, the operation was orchestrated by Sanjay Sanjeev Kumar alias “Fauji,” an Indian national residing in a Gulf country.
Acting on RAW’s instructions, Kumar recruited Pakistani nationals, financed the mission, and maintained constant communication with the team.
Police confirmed that six suspects have been taken into custody, including facilitators arrested in Hyderabad. The CTD has recovered the suspects’ travel histories, communication records, and financial transactions, which reportedly establish direct links to RAW.
“This is the first time that an active RAW hit squad has been captured inside Pakistan. Previously, only facilitators were apprehended,” Additional IGP Azaad Khan told reporters.
Authorities are also investigating possible connections between the RAW-backed cell and Sindhi separatist groups. According to CTD officials, handler Kumar recruited Pakistanis Salman and Arsalan abroad, who went on to form a four-member hit team — Umair, Sajjad, Ubaid, and Shakeel.
Officials said that during interrogation, the suspects revealed a list of potential future targets, raising fears of further assassination attempts had the group not been intercepted.
The CTD has vowed to pursue the case vigorously in court and ensure “exemplary punishment” for those involved. “RAW spent a significant amount of money to carry out this attack. Our investigation shows this was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader network,” Khan added.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India, with Islamabad repeatedly accusing New Delhi of sponsoring separatist violence and espionage inside its borders. Indian authorities have consistently denied such allegations.
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