Pakistan has levelled accusations against India, alleging extrajudicial killings within its borders.
Specifically, Pakistan claims to possess ‘credible evidence’ pointing to Indian involvement in the deaths of two Pakistani individuals.
According to Pakistani officials, the manner in which these killings were carried out bears resemblance to cases documented in Canada and the United States.
Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Qazi asserted that Pakistan has substantial evidence implicating Indian operatives in the targeted killings of two Pakistani citizens on Pakistani territory.
Speaking at a press briefing, Qazi described the incidents as orchestrated killings-for-hire, orchestrated by a sophisticated international network spanning multiple jurisdictions.
During a news conference, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi reiterated Islamabad’s claim of possessing ‘credible evidence’ linking Indian agents to the murders of Muhammad Riaz in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on September 8 of the previous year and Shahid Latif in Sialkot, situated near Kashmir, a month later.
Qazi emphasized that these were meticulously planned killings, part of a broader international operation.
Identifying the victims as Shahid Latif and Muhammad Riaz, Qazi disclosed that they were both fatally shot in separate incidents last year.
Riaz fell victim during morning prayers at a mosque in Rawalakot, within Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in September, while Latif met his demise outside a mosque in Sialkot, Punjab, in October.
Qazi drew attention to the striking resemblance between the modus operandi employed in these killings and those observed in cases documented in Canada and the United States.
“These incidents align with a pattern observed in similar cases reported in other countries, including Canada and the United States,” Qazi remarked. “Evidently, India’s network of extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings appears to be extending globally.”
Notably, both Canada and the US had previously made allegations implicating Indian agents in an assassination and an attempted assassination within their territories last year.
India’s Stand
The Ministry of External Affairs of India dismissed the accusations, labeling them as “false and malicious” in a statement posted on X.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rebuffed Qazi’s claims, denouncing them as “Pakistan’s latest endeavour to disseminate false and malicious anti-India propaganda.”
“As the global community is well aware, Pakistan has historically been a hub of terrorism, organized crime, and illicit cross-border activities. India, along with numerous other nations, has consistently cautioned Pakistan, warning that it would ultimately suffer the consequences of its own culture of terror and violence,” stated MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
“Pakistan will bear the fruits of its actions.”
India also firmly rejected Pakistan’s assertion that “Indian agents” played a role in the assassination of two Pakistani terrorists last year.
Responding to Pakistan’s claim, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a robust statement on Thursday, accusing the neighbouring country of spreading false and malicious anti-India propaganda.
In a statement characterized by strong language, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that Pakistan would face the consequences of its actions.
“We have observed media reports regarding certain remarks made by Pakistan’s foreign secretary. This represents Pakistan’s latest endeavor to disseminate false and malicious anti-India propaganda. As the global community is well aware, Pakistan has historically been a hub of terrorism, organized crime, and illicit transnational activities,” the MEA stated.
Jaiswal continued, stating, “India, along with numerous other countries, has consistently cautioned Pakistan, warning that it would ultimately suffer the consequences of its own culture of terror and violence. Pakistan will bear the fruits of its actions. Blaming others for its own misdeeds cannot serve as justification or resolution.”
It was alleged that two Indian agents were responsible for recruiting individuals to carry out the assassinations of the victims, both of whom were killed near mosques. However, no additional details regarding the victims were provided, nor was any suggestion offered as to why New Delhi might have targeted them.
India has consistently accused Pakistan of sheltering terrorists, particularly in the contentious and heavily militarized Kashmir region, which is claimed in its entirety by both nations.
The region is divided by a de facto border known as the Line of Control, with New Delhi and Islamabad each administering parts of it and tensions over Kashmir have sparked three conflicts between the two countries.
These allegations surface amidst accusations levelled against India by both Canada and the United States, who separately accused India of orchestrating assassination attempts targeting pro-Khalistan sympathizers.
In November, the US implicated an Indian government official in a plot to murder an American citizen within its borders.
The revelation came shortly after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly insinuated that India may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian national on Canadian soil, sparking a heated reaction from New Delhi and triggering a diplomatic rift between the two nations.
India has refuted any involvement in the incidents in the US and Canada, establishing a high-level committee to investigate the accusations made in the US.
The Last Bit, the recent exchange of accusations between India and Pakistan regarding alleged involvement in assassination plots, illustrates the deep-rooted tensions between the two nations.
While Pakistan accuses India of orchestrating extrajudicial killings on its soil, India vehemently denies these claims, labelling them as part of Pakistan’s ongoing propaganda efforts.
The situation is further complicated by similar accusations against India by Canada and the United States, heightening diplomatic tensions.
Amidst these accusations and counter-accusations, the underlying issues of regional instability, terrorism, and territorial disputes remain unresolved, emphasizing the complex and fragile nature of South Asian geopolitics and the rift between India and Pakistan.
