India’s RAW Linked to Covert Assassination Campaign in Pakistan: Report
India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has been accused of orchestrating a covert campaign of targeted killings in Pakistan, according to a report by The Washington Post. The report suggests that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seen as one of India’s most assertive leaders since independence, is the driving force behind these cross-border operations.
Pattern of Targeted Killings
A notable case includes the assassination of Amir Sarfaraz, also known as “Tamba,” in Lahore in April 2023. Sarfaraz, implicated in the 2011 killing of an Indian intelligence officer, was gunned down in what Pakistani authorities claim bore the hallmarks of Indian involvement. This killing is part of a series of incidents allegedly escalating since 2021.
Modi’s Covert Strategies
The investigation reveals a sophisticated operation managed through intermediaries in Dubai, involving local criminals or Afghan nationals hired via informal banking channels like hawala. Intelligence from India’s extensive regional network reportedly guides these operations.
According to the report, these tactics—refined in Pakistan—have been expanded to target dissidents abroad, including in Western nations. In 2014, India’s National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, advocated for covert actions against Pakistan, emphasizing exploiting its vulnerabilities rather than direct confrontation.
Escalating Shadow Operations
India’s covert operations are not new. Incidents such as the 2013 assassination of Nasiruddin Haqqani and attempts on Kashmiri militant leader Syed Salahuddin highlight a long history of targeted killings. However, these operations intensified post-2021, after Modi’s re-election.
International Implications
India’s actions have also come under scrutiny in Western countries. A U.S. federal indictment linked RAW officer Vikash Yadav to a plot targeting a Sikh separatist in New York, while Canadian authorities exposed an extensive campaign of surveillance and intimidation against the Sikh diaspora.
Experts warn that these covert measures risk destabilizing South Asia, a region already fraught with conflict and tension between India and Pakistan. Pakistan has urged global stakeholders, including the United States, to investigate these allegations impartially.
Diplomatic Stalemate
Despite intermittent peace efforts, relations between India and Pakistan remain strained. These revelations have added fuel to an already volatile geopolitical situation, with both nations grappling with internal and international challenges.
India has largely remained silent on the allegations, insisting its actions are aimed at countering terrorism and safeguarding national security.
