Pakistan's narrative of India's spreading network of spies and smugglers and violations of the Line of Control [LoC] by Indian Border Security Force and others is continuing.
In the latest such incident, Dawn News reported that Karachi police arrested an alleged Indian spy and his local facilitator in Lyari on August 23.
The report quoted City SSP Arif Aziz said that the police and an intelligence agency jointly conducted a raid in the Kalakot area and arrested Akhal Dev and Zahoor Ahmed.
Two Indian passports, one pistol, foreign currency, six mobile phones, one tablet and other goods were recovered from them. “Akhal Dev is an Indian spy … he did recce of different important and sensitive installations in the country,” claimed the SSP. However, he provided no further details.
Apprehending of Smugglers
In another report Pakistan DG ISPR, the official media arm of the Army claimed that Pakistan Rangers troops deployed along the international border with India have apprehended six Indian nationals inside Pakistani territory between July 29 and August 3.
According to the statement, the Indians were trying to smuggle “narcotics, weapons and ammunition” into Pakistan. “It shows likely complicity of BSF troops in narco and weapons smuggling,” the ISPR said.
ISPR claimed that the four belonged to Ferozpur in India and also gave out the names. “These Indian smugglers will be dealt [with] as per law of the land for illegally entering into Pakistan and indulging in nefarious activities,” the ISPR said.
LoC Incident
Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned the Indian Chargé d’Affaires on August 22 to register its protest “over the killing of a Pakistani civilian as a result of unprovoked firing by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC)”.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 60-year-old Mr. Ghias, a resident of Oli village in Kotli district, was killed as a result of Indian firing in the Nikial Sector of the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir on August 21.
Pak Foreign Office claimed that such acts are in clear violation of the 2003 ceasefire understanding between the two neighbouring countries, reaffirmed in February 2021. “Pakistan strongly condemns this incident and reiterates its commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region,” the Foreign Ministry added in the press statement.
Pakistan media quoted an earlier incident in June claiming Indian Army resorted to unprovoked firing on a group of shepherds along the LoC in which two shepherds will killed and Indian Charge d’ Affaires was also summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register Pakistan’s strong protest over the ceasefire violation committed by the Indian forces.
The India Army on August 21 claimed to have killed two terrorists and foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district’s Balakote sector. “Intelligence inputs received from multiple intelligence agencies and police revealed the presence of terrorists waiting across the LoC to enter from Balakote sector. Based on these inputs, a surveillance grid was placed on heightened alert and multiple ambushes were planted at suitable locations,” said defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal.
Pakistan has increased the level of infiltration by terrorists supported by it in J & K after the onset of summer this year.
Fake News of Surgical Strike
Interestingly on August 22, the Ministry of Defence refuted claims in a media report of launch of a surgical strike in the same zone.
An Army official in a statement said, “A news has been published with respect to Surgical Strike. I would like to inform you that no such operation has been carried out in Rajouri – Poonch. An Infiltration Bid was foiled yesterday for which a press release has been given.”
Conclusion
Given the aggressive approach adopted by Pakistan Army and the ISI, more such revelations of Indian spies and smugglers can be anticipated in the days ahead.