India refutes allegations of targeted killings in Pakistan

PTC Web Desk: The Union Ministry of External Affairs has vehemently denied accusations made in a recent report by The Guardian, alleging that "India has been conducting targeted assassinations in Pakistan". The ministry termed these allegations as "false and malicious propaganda."

The report, which cited purported documents from Pakistani investigators, claimed that India's intelligence agency RAW had orchestrated 20 targeted killings on Pakistani soil, following the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. These alleged assassinations were described as part of India's strategy to eradicate terrorists residing abroad.

According to The Guardian's report, targeted assassinations surged notably in 2023, with sources in Pakistan's intelligence community accusing India of involvement in approximately 15 suspected deaths, most of which were attributed to unknown gunmen shooting victims at close range. The report further suggested that Indian intelligence sleeper cells, primarily operating out of the United Arab Emirates, were responsible for orchestrating these killings.

Furthermore, the report referenced recent claims made by Canada, linking the Indian government to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023. These claims added weight to The Guardian's narrative, bolstering the allegations of India's involvement in targeted assassinations beyond its borders.

In response, the Union Ministry of External Affairs reiterated a previous statement by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, stating that "targeted killings in foreign territories do not align with the Government of India's official stance or policies". The ministry adamantly rejected the accusations put forth in The Guardian's report, asserting that they are baseless and intended to malign India's reputation on the global stage.

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