Not so hidden hand: Six Afghan ‘agents’ arrested in Balochistan

Home minister claims high-ranking Kabul security officials, RAW involved in subversive activities

QUETTA: Security forces have apprehended as many as six Afghan ‘agents’ who were allegedly involved in acts of sabotage, terrorism and targeted killings that left at least 40 people dead in the country.

Their capture was disclosed by Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti during a news conference at the Sikandar Jamali auditorium in the Civil Secretariat, Quetta Thursday afternoon. However, he did not say when or where these agents were apprehended.

“Our intelligence and security agencies have successfully arrested six agents of Afghanistan’s intelligence agency who have confessed their involvement in killing 40 innocent people in targeted killings, bomb blasts and other heinous crimes in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan.”

The announcement comes two months after the Balochistan government had disclosed the arrest of Kulbhushan Yadav, an Indian navy officer who confessed he had been working for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) to carry out subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi, near the Saravan border post in the province.

The minister pointed out that RAW and the Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) were jointly involved in perpetrating acts of terror in the province.



“RAW and NDS jointly infiltrated their agents into Pakistan and these men carried out targeted killings.”

Bugti claimed that three officers of the Afghan intelligence agency of general ranks were personally supervising these terrorists and target killers during sabotage and subversion operations in Pakistan specifically aimed at destabilising the country.

The officers were identified by Bugti as General Rahim, General Malik and General Momin.

The minister then showed alleged video confessions of the suspected agents in which they detailed receiving large sums of money for carrying out their activities in Pakistan.

Two of the agents, identified as Mehboob Khan and Asmatullah, confessed their involvement in targeted killings in Balochistan. They added that they had received help from RAW to carry out the killings.

Bugti detailed that these ‘agents’ enter Pakistan and live in Afghan refugee camps. He conceded that these agents had managed to secure Pakistan’s computerised identity cards (CNICs) by paying between Rs30,000 and Rs40,000 for each card to corrupt officials of the National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA).

He went on to detail that NADRA director-general has levelled serious allegation against the leaders of Pakthunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), including its chief, for interference and employing pressure tactics to secure CNICs for illegal Afghan immigrants in Balochistan.

Leaving the ruling coalition partner to respond to the allegations, Bugti said the government is investigating the allegations.

He went on to warn that Afghan nationals involved in acts of subversion and terrorism that they should leave Balochistan otherwise they will be evicted. He added that there was evidence that Afghan nationals are involved in destroying peace and tranquillity in Balochistan and elsewhere in Pakistan.

Col Aziz, a senior officer of the Frontier Corps, Balochistan, was also present at the news conference.

Army chief appreciates work of LEAs

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has appreciated the efforts of law enforcement and intelligence agencies for unearthing foreign international network of spies.

His remarks came during a briefing on operations and the prevailing security situation in the province at the Southern Command Headquarters in Quetta on Thursday evening.

“Together we will defeat any nefarious designs of hurting Pakistan and root out hostile elements out of our country,” he reiterated.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2016.