Pakistan Accuses India's Intelligence Agency of Involvement in Extrajudicial Killings
Pakistan has lodged serious accusations against its neighboring country, India, claiming that its intelligence agency was involved in the extrajudicial killings of Pakistani citizens last year. The Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Sajjad Qazi, stated during a news conference in Islamabad that they possess credible evidence linking two Indian agents to the deaths of two Pakistanis.
Qazi emphasized that the assassinations of Pakistani nationals on Pakistani soil not only violated the sovereignty of their nation but also breached the U.N. Charter. 'This violation of Pakistan's sovereignty by India is completely unacceptable,' he stated firmly.
The victims of these killings were both individuals who held strong anti-India sentiments. They were killed in separate incidents that took place inside mosques in different cities in Pakistan. The allegations made by Pakistan follow accusations by the United States and Canada, who also claimed that Indian agents were linked to assassination attempts on their own soil.
Qazi expressed his concern, saying, 'Clearly, the Indian network of extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings has become a global phenomenon.' However, India has firmly denied these allegations made by Pakistan, dismissing them as an 'attempt at peddling false and malicious anti-India propaganda.'
In his revelation, Qazi identified the two Indian agents allegedly involved in orchestrating the killings as Yogesh Kumar and Ashok Kumar. He described the operations as part of a complex international setup, spanning across multiple jurisdictions. According to Qazi, Indian agents used technology and safe havens in foreign countries to carry out assassinations in Pakistan. They not only recruited individuals but also provided them with financial support, manipulating criminals, terrorists, and even unsuspecting civilians to play defined roles in these assassinations.
Qazi stated that the majority of the men allegedly hired by the Indian agents for these killings have already been apprehended by Pakistani authorities. He cited two specific incidents: the assassination of anti-India militant Mohammad Riaz inside a mosque in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in September, and the killing of Shahid Latif, a close aide to Masood Azhar, the founder of the anti-India militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, inside a mosque in Pakistan's Sialkot district in October.
Pakistan and India have a long-standing history of strained relations, marked by three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, two of them specifically related to the disputed region of Kashmir.
This latest incident adds another layer of complexity to an already delicate regional situation. The accusations and denials have further heightened tensions between the two nations, which will require careful diplomatic efforts to address and potentially diffuse the situation before it escalates further.
