Foreign Secretary says India carrying out target killings in Pakistan
Islamabad: In a startling revelation, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Syrus Sajjad Qazi, has disclosed that India was involved in recent target killing incidents within the country.
Addressing a press briefing at the Foreign Office, today, Syrus Sajjad Qazi maintained that evidence, including financial transactions and confessions from the perpetrators, pointed to the involvement of Indian citizens in orchestrating the murders. He said, we have confirmed evidence that two Pakistani citizens were killed by India. Confirmed links of the killer to India have been found.
The foreign secretary identified the perpetrators of these assassinations as Ashok Kumar and Yogesh Kumar, saying they had paid agents to carry out the targeted killings.
Syrus Sajjad Qazi provided specific details about the two incidents, citing the case of Shahid Latif, a Pakistani citizen killed by Indian national Yogesh Kumar.
As per the Foreign Secretary, Yogesh Kumar hired a local assassin, Umair, to carry out the killing. The law enforcement agencies apprehended Umair and his associates on October 12, 2023, as they attempted to flee the country.
A second case involved the killing of Muhammad Riaz in Rawalakot. The investigation revealed that Abdullah Ali, another paid assassin, was responsible for Riaz’s death on September 8, last year.
Foreign Secretary emphasised that the Indian agents had received money for these murders. “India should be held accountable at the international level,” he added.
He mentioned the celebration of the killings on Indian social media platforms and pointed to admissions from the arrested target killers, Umair and Abdullah, as well as evidence of money transfers into their accounts.
Syrus Sajjad Qazi maintained that India had not limited such activities to Pakistan, but had also violated international laws in Canada and the US in the past. He highlighted the ongoing case of Kulbhushan Jadhav in the International Court of Justice, reinforcing Pakistan’s stance over the terrorist activities being carried out by India in the country.
“The killing of a Sikh leader in Canada is just one example of India’s global operations,” the foreign secretary remarked, indicating a pattern of misconduct by Indian intelligence agencies.
He maintained that Pakistan reserved the right to raise the matter at any international forum, including the International Court of Justice.
