Pakistan’s military has accused India of orchestrating covert actions aimed at destabilizing Pakistan’s internal security and undermining regional progress, such as transnational killings and terror cells operating from neighboring nations.
At a press conference held Tuesday, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry issued a strongly worded statement, asserting that India has engaged in an aggressive strategy of hybrid warfare including targeted killings of Pakistanis living abroad, support for anti-Pakistan militant groups and cyberespionage campaigns designed to sow political instability.
General Chaudhry concluded: “These incidents aren’t isolated incidents – we have unflinchable evidence demonstrating Indian intelligence agencies, particularly RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), are involved in transnational terrorism targeting Pakistani nationals on foreign soil.”
Chaudhry made this announcement days after Pakistani intelligence officials claimed they had foiled a major terror plot in Balochistan that is linked to Afghanistan-trained militants operating with Indian support, according to Chaudhry’s statements. According to Chaudhry, numerous suspects have been detained and weapons caches recovered during coordinated raids conducted in Quetta and Chaman.
He pointed to past incidents, such as the unsettling killing of Pakistani national Shahbaz Ahmed in Dubai earlier this year and attacks against Pakistani interests in Iran and Oman – incidents which Pakistan believes were orchestrated or supported by Indian intelligence agents.
“India wants to become a global economic and political power, yet continues employing tactics which undermine regional stability and violate international laws,” he stated. Their goal is to block Pakistan’s development efforts such as building strategic corridors, expanding trade partnerships and stabilizing its western borders.
Chaudhry’s comments echo earlier statements by Pakistani foreign ministry officials who have accused India of running covert operations to derail projects within China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an expansive initiative with over $46 billion invested by Chinese firms into infrastructure and energy sectors across Pakistan.
Although India has consistently denied allegations of cross-border terrorism or interference in Pakistani domestic affairs, Pakistan’s military leadership maintains that such denials are part of an established pattern of deception and propaganda.
India has made clear its goal is to weaken Pakistan from within and isolate us internationally,” Chaudhry stated.
He urged international institutions, including the UN and human rights organizations, to address what he described as India’s systematic breach of sovereignty and involvement in state-sponsored terrorism.
“The international community must not ignore India’s double standards: on one hand it promotes peace and dialogue; yet at the same time is orchestrating murders abroad and funding extremism,” according to DG ISPR.
Pakistan has convened its National Security Committee reportedly in order to assess the situation and devise an appropriate diplomatic and security response.
As tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors flare again, analysts warn that without increased dialogue and international mediation, this escalation in accusations could further destabilize South Asia.