Detained 'RAW' officer retired prematurely from Indian navy, says New Delhi

India's Ministry of External Affairs denies any link with Kul Bhushan Yadav

New Delhi denied on Friday having any links with the naval intelligence officer rounded up by security agencies in Balochistan on Thursday over suspicion of spying for India’s premier spy agency the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

“The said individual has no link with government since his premature retirement from Indian Navy,” said a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Friday.

India's statement after envoy summoned in Pakistan over arrest of "Raw officer" in Balochistan pic.twitter.com/RcwYWY1eWC

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The ministry confirmed the matter was raised by Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry with the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad.

Express News screen grab of alleged documents of the 'RAW officer'

“We have sought consular access to him. India has no interest in interfering in internal matters of any country and firmly believes that a stable and peaceful Pakistan is in the interest of all in the region,” the statement read.

Nisar terms spy arrest ‘grave concern’

The country’s top security czar termed on Friday the arrest of the Indian spy from Balochistan a grave concern, saying external forces are involved in deteriorating law and order in the province, Express News reported.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said a detailed investigation of the occurrence is still to be conducted and Iran’s help maybe sought in this regard.

He also warned the neighbouring country not to mistake Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace and reconciliation with vulnerability.

The interior minister also praised security forces for breaking a network of the enemy working against the country.



Take nation into confidence: Imran

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said the arrest highlighted Indian’s designs and intentions against Pakistan.

He demanded the government to take the nation into confidence over anti-Pakistan activities of RAW as well as measures taken at the borders to curb terrorism.

The chairman observed that the arrest surfaced despite the fact that Pakistan is cooperating with India on the Pathankot incident, while no headway is made in Samjhota Express probe.

Earlier during the day, Pakistan lodged protest with India over the latter's “spying activities” in Balochistan and Karachi.

“Through a demarche the Foreign Secretary on Friday conveyed Pakistan’s protest and deep concern on the illegal entry into Pakistan by a RAW officer and his involvement in subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi,” a statement said.

Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti had on Thursday said security forces arrested Kul Bhushan Yadav, an Indian naval intelligence officer working for RAW from the troubled province.

“Kul Bhushan Yadav, a commander-ranked officer in Indian Navy was working for RAW and was in contact with Baloch separatists and terrorists fuelling sectarian violence in Pakistan and Balochistan,” Bugti told the media. The minister, however, did not disclose the exact location of where the man was arrested.



The suspect, who is believed to have been working with insurgent commanders in the region, was reportedly moved to Islamabad.

“The Indian spy was involved in financially supporting terrorists and also confessed to his involvement in Karachi unrest,” Bugti told reporters.

Islamabad and the Balochistan government have long accused RAW and Afghan intelligence of funding and training Baloch insurgents, who have been targeting security forces and pro-government personalities in the province for the past 10 years.

Security forces have stepped up operations in the violence-wracked Balochistan province since the announcement of the National Action Plan against terrorism in December 2014. The province has been in the throes of a low-key insurgency since 2004, which became deadlier after the killing of Baloch chieftain Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006.

Islamabad sees India’s growing diplomatic initiatives in Afghanistan in the same period as a cover for RAW agents working to destabilise Pakistan by training and arming separatists in Balochistan.



Last year in September, three dossiers containing proof of Indian involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan were handed over to the United Nations.

Prepared with utmost ‘diligence and care’, the dossiers contained ‘hard and irrefutable’ evidence regarding RAW hand in stoking terror in Balochistan, tribal areas and Karachi, according to the foreign office.