ISLAMABAD – The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) police on Thursday claimed to have arrested a man allegedly working as an agent for India’s intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Addressing a press conference in Muzaffarabad, AJK Inspector General of Police (IGP) Liaqat Ali Malik said the suspect, identified as Irfan, was taken into custody in Rawalakot.
“He had been recording videos and taking photographs of sensitive installations, which were intended to be shared with hostile elements,” the IGP said. The police chief revealed that unscrupulous elements were attempting to transmit sensitive information across borders, adding that the RAW agent had been targeting innocent people as part of his activities.
Operating Through Social Media
He emphasised that the sanctity and security of AJK’s territory would be protected at all costs. The AJK police chief said that the suspect had been operating through social media platforms. The police officials also showed journalists a confessional video statement by Irfan.
Separate Case in Mirpur
In a separate development in Mirpur, police registered a case at Thothal police station against two individuals, Raja Nisar and Ishrat Nisar, identified as visa agents. Further details about the charges were not immediately disclosed.
Earlier Arrests of Indian Spies
Earlier this week, three Indian spies were sentenced under the Official Secrets Act after being arrested by security forces for their involvement with RAW. Security agencies, in an effective intelligence-based operation, had arrested three individuals allegedly involved in espionage activities for RAW. The accused belonged to Narowal, Bahawalpur, and District Neelum in AJK.
The arrested individuals confessed that they were lured through certain social media platforms with offers of money and relationships with women in exchange for access to sensitive information. Payments were allegedly made to the suspects via digital wallet, cryptocurrency platforms, and bank accounts.
Analysis: Ongoing Counter-Espionage Efforts
The arrest of a suspected RAW agent in Rawalakot highlights the ongoing counter-espionage efforts by Pakistani security agencies. The use of social media platforms to recruit assets and the use of digital payment methods to transfer funds represent modern espionage techniques.
The AJK police chief’s emphasis on protecting the “sanctity and security” of the region’s territory reflects the strategic importance of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which shares a border with Indian-administered Kashmir.
The confessional video statement shown to journalists is a standard practice in such cases, aimed at demonstrating the effectiveness of security agencies and deterring others from similar activities.
The earlier sentencing of three Indian spies under the Official Secrets Act indicates that Pakistan is actively prosecuting espionage cases. The involvement of individuals from both within Pakistan (Narowal, Bahawalpur) and AJK (Neelum) suggests that RAW has been attempting to recruit assets from a range of locations.
As regional tensions remain high, counter-espionage efforts will continue to be a priority for Pakistani security agencies.
