Anza Kanwal
In a major breakthrough, an Indian terrorist Kulbhushan Jhadav alias Hussain Mubarak Patel arrested in Balochistan over charges of spying for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Jhadav was arrested from the Musakhel area of Balochistan on March 3 and the information gleaned from him was laid before the media in the form of a video interview by ISPR chief Lt Gen Asim Bajwa and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid at a press conference in Islamabad. Ironically, India, while admitting the RAW terrorist arrested by Pakistani security forces to be its citizen, claimed that the Kulbhushan Jhadav had already taken early retirement from the Indian Navy. The Pakistan government, on the other hand, recovered the travel documents and multiple fake identities of the arrested spy, establishing him as an Indian spy who entered into Balochistan through Iran having a valid Iranian visa. The terrorist also made startling revelations regarding the existence of a potent RAW network operating against Pakistan from Iranian soil. He revealed that his mission included espionage and sabotage, in addition to fomenting insecurity and instability in Sindh and Balochistan.
Pakistan has formally asked the Iranian government for proactive support in dismantling the Indian intelligence network that is said to be operating from Chabahar. The letter from the interior ministry sent to Iran through its embassy in Islamabad was written following the revelations made by Commander Kulbhushan Jhadav. The letter stated Jhadav had revealed that he was based in Chabahar area of Iran, under the cover of a businessman dealing in jewellery and that he was assisted by other RAW personnel, including Sub-Inspector Rakesh alias Rizwan. The letter also contains the address of a shop supposedly run by these RAW operatives in a mall in Chabahar. Pakistan has demanded that Rakesh alias Rizwan be arrested immediately and handed over to Pakistan for interrogation. In addition, it asks Tehran to verify Jhadav’s activities, provide records of his stay in Iran, including the cities he visited and for how long; a record of the people he had been interacting with; and details of RAW networks on Iranian soil as well as any other related details.
Moreover, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif took up the matter with Iranian President Hassan Rowhani during the latter’s recent visit to Islamabad. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also discussed the issue with Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost in a meeting. According to sources, Iranian authorities have directly and indirectly conveyed to Pakistan that they were investigating whether or not Jhadav crossed into Pakistan illegally. India, which has already alleged Jhadav was picked up from the Iranian soil, is putting pressure on the Iran to register a case against Pakistani agencies. India is also seeking to enlist support of the United States, the United Kingdom and France to convince Iran to go by its claim that Jhadav was kidnapped from the Iranian soil. New Delhi has even threatened Tehran to choose between Pakistan and India, leaving the country in a quandary. India is investing billions of rupees in the Special Economic Zone in Chabahar, a port New Delhi has partially built. Lying in the Gulf of Oman, Chabahar port gives India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. Moreover, India also buys almost all of its oil from the Iran.
However, ruling out the possibility of Iranian `connivance` in covert operations of India`s Research and Analysis Wing in Pakistan, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressed confidence that Tehran would never act against Pakistan. He deplored attempts to create an impression that Iran was facilitating RAW’s actions against Pakistan. He said that Iran was more than just a brother Muslim country; it was a neighbouring Muslim country, adding that political, economic, social and cultural relations between Iran and Pakistan would rapidly grow in the days to come.
Pakistan has already handed over evidence regarding Jhadav’s arrest to key world powers, including the US and UK, but they have yet not responded, sources said. Interestingly, the same world powers had quickly responded when India approached them over the January 2 terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase. It is important to mention here that Pakistan had last year submitted dossiers to the UN and the US government, containing information and evidence about Indian state sponsored terrorism in Pakistan. The level of training, tactics, weapon and equipment with militants in tribal areas and Balochistan illustrates that they are getting support from anti Pakistan elements. The involvement of United States, UK, Afghanistan and Israel cannot be just ruled out. Socio-economic deprivation, ethnic violence involving target killings, sectarian divide, social disorder and lawlessness are not only main causes of concern but also awaits attention of the ruling elite. But unfortunately they are busy in political wrangling, blame game and corruption. Political leadership maintains an indifferent attitude using vague policies and evasive schemes to pass time. The situation demands that political government having realized the gravity of the issue must devise a comprehensive strategy to undertake timely measures to bring lasting peace in the province.
