A recent report from The Washington Post reveals that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has allegedly orchestrated a series of targeted killings in Pakistan, marking a significant escalation in the covert operations between the two nations. The report suggests that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has positioned himself as a strong leader on the global stage, is believed to be a driving force behind these actions.
One of the most notable incidents was the assassination of Amir Sarfaraz, known as “Tamba,” in Lahore in April 2023. Sarfaraz, previously implicated in the murder of an Indian intelligence officer in 2011, was shot by gunmen on a motorbike, an attack Pakistani authorities suspect was linked to Indian intelligence.
The report also highlights a network involving intermediaries in Dubai who coordinate the killings, hiring local criminals or Afghan nationals to carry out the operations. These operatives are reportedly paid via informal channels like hawala, with the instructions often based on intelligence gathered by India’s regional network.
India’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, previously hinted at using covert methods to target Pakistan in retaliation for supporting militant groups. His comments from 2014 now seem to align with the increased frequency of these targeted killings, which have ramped up since Modi’s re-election in 2021.
This pattern of covert killings has not only affected Pakistan but also extended to other regions, including the United States and Canada, where Indian agents have allegedly been involved in assassination attempts against members of the Sikh diaspora.
Despite Indian officials defending these actions as part of national security measures, critics argue that they are contributing to regional instability and worsening the already fragile relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. As tensions continue to mount, the international community is urged to investigate these covert operations, which are seen as exacerbating the volatile geopolitical situation in South Asia.
