By Naveed Siddiqui
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan revealed on Thursday what it describes as a sophisticated and alleged ‘sinister Indian campaign,’ pointing to instances of extra-territorial and extra-judicial killings within the country. Similar patterns have been noted in other nations, such as Canada and the United States
Speaking at a news conference, Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi shared details of two Pakistani citizens who he said were killed under the sophisticated and sinister Indian campaign and indicated that some more cases are currently under investigation and will be shared in due course of time.
“Today we will present details of a sophisticated and sinister Indian campaign of extra-territorial and extra-judicial killings inside Pakistan. We have credible evidence of links between Indian agents and assassination of two Pakistani nationals on Pakistani soil,” Qazi said.
He added that these were killings-for-hire cases involving a sophisticated international setup spread over multiple jurisdictions, adding that Indian agents used technology and safe havens on foreign soil to commit assassinations in Pakistan.
“They recruited, financed and supported criminals, terrorists and unsuspecting civilians to play defined roles in these assassinations,” he said, adding that the Indian media and social media accounts immediately claimed and glorified these killings as successful retribution against “enemies” of India and projected their capacity to carry out these illegal acts.
The foreign secretary said that potential assassins were recruited, using social media, talent spotters and fake Da’esh accounts. “There was complete compartmentalization of the various components of the operation with employment of teams of financiers, locators, and assassins. Elaborate exit plans were developed to obscure all potential tracks. At this stage, we are sharing information on two cases. A few other similar cases are under investigation and will be revealed in due course,” he added.
Giving details, he said that on 11 October 2023, a group of criminals assassinated Shahid Latif outside a mosque in the city of Sialkot. He added that a detailed investigation revealed that an Indian agent, Yogesh Kumar, based in a “third country”, orchestrated the assassination through criminals and terrorists. However, he did not reveal the name of the “third country”, saying that Pakistan has also approached the authorities of the concerned country.
Qazi further said that Yogesh Kumar recruited Muhammad Umair, a labourer in that third country to act as a contact with local criminals in Pakistan to trace and assassinate Shahid Latif. He stated that the recruited local criminals were able to locate and trace Shahid Latif, however, the killers-for-hire were unable to carry out the execution.
After some failed attempts, he added that Muhammad Umair was personally sent to Pakistan to carry out the assassination. He further revealed that Umair organised a team of five target killers which after the first failed attempt on 9 October 2023, succeeded in assassinating Shahid Latif on 11 October 2023.
Based on confessional statements and technical evidence, he added that law enforcement authorities quickly apprehended the target killers, including Muhammad Umair, who was trying to flee the country on 12 October 2023.
“All those involved in reconnaissance and killing has been apprehended and is being tried in a court of law. We have evidence of transactions made in the process linking the entire chain to Indian agent Yogesh Kumar,” he added.
The foreign secretary further revealed that another Indian agent was involved in the killing of another Pakistani national Muhammad Riaz, who was assassinated during Fajr prayer, in a mosque in Rawalakot on 8 September 2023.
He said that the law enforcement agencies tracked the killer, Muhammad Abdullah Ali and apprehended him on 15 September 2023 while boarding a flight at Jinnah International Airport Karachi.
He said that the interrogation revealed that Muhammad Abdullah Ali was recruited and guided by Indian agents Ashok Kumar Anand and Yogesh Kumar. He added that Indian agents utilised social media app Telegram to recruit Muhammad Abdullah Ali, who was asked to locate Muhammad Riaz.
Qazi further stated that Muhammad Abdullah Ali received payments through middlemen based in a “third” country. He was also provided with weapons and ammunition. After a failed attempt on 7 September 2023, Muhammad Abdullah Ali succeeded in killing Muhammad Riaz on 8 September 2023.
He said that the law enforcement authorities apprehended Muhammad Abdullah Ali and his supporters and facilitators from various cities of Pakistan. He said that the case is being tried in a court of law and based on confessional statements of Muhammad Abdullah Ali and technical evidence, the investigators quickly identified the facilitators in Pakistan as well as in third countries.
“We have documentary, financial and forensic evidence of the involvement of the two Indian agents, who masterminded these assassinations. We are releasing the passport details of Yogesh Kumar and Ashok Kumar. We have also reached out to the governments of relevant third countries. And there are a few other cases of similar gravity at various stages of investigation,” he added.
“These cases reveal growing sophistication of Indian-sponsored terrorist acts inside Pakistan. They fit the pattern of similar cases which have come to light in other countries including Canada and the United States. Clearly, the Indian network of extra-judicial and extra-territorial killings has become a global phenomenon,” he said.
He added that Pakistan has remained a target of extra-judicial killings for some time now. “We are now witnessing an increased sophistication in these operations as revealed in these two cases. It is critical to bring to justice the killers, their facilitators and financers involved in these assassinations. Indian agents need to face justice for its extra-judicial and extra-territorial killings in other countries,” he said.
He further stated that India must be held accountable internationally for its blatant violation of international law, adding that India’s assassination of Pakistan nationals on Pakistani soil is a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and a breach of the UN Charter. “This violation of Pakistan sovereignty by India is completely unacceptable… Pakistan remains committed to protecting its people and securing its sovereignty. Protection of Pakistanis and any foreign national on Pakistani soil is a high priority for the Government of Pakistan,” he said.
The foreign secretary further said that India’s “reckless and irresponsible” act calls into question India’s reliability as a credible international player and its claims for enhanced global responsibilities.
