CTD uncovers RAW network in Sindh; six suspects held

KARACHI: The Sindh Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Saturday claimed to have unearthed a secret network of India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), in Sindh, saying its operatives were involved in targeted killings and terror plots across the province.

Addressing a press conference at the Central Police Office, CTD Additional Inspector General (AIG) Azad Khan said four Indian agents, arrested on July 8, had confessed to working for India and disclosed details of RAW network in Pakistan.

The suspects received heavy funding for targeted killings and maintained safe houses in Karachi, while the planning for attacks was carried out abroad, he added.

According to Khan, the breakthrough came during investigations into the May 18 killing of Abdul Rehman, also known as Razaullah Nizamani, in Badin.

He noted that the slain Abdul Rehman had no criminal or political background and was known in his area for welfare work. “Such individuals are often targeted to spread fear and destabilise communities.”

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The CTD, assisted by federal intelligence agencies, traced the network through this case and later registered a separate FIR against a local reporting agency suspected of assisting RAW.

Locals were hired to build RAW network

The AIG said RAW’s handler, Sanjay Sanjeev Kumar alias Fauji, recruited two Pakistani nationals, Salman and Arsalan, in a Gulf state. Salman later formed a target-killer gang comprising Umair, Sajjad, Ubaid and Shakeel.

Funding for the group, Khan added, was sent through banking channels.

Recovered weapons included 9mm pistols, 30-bore pistols, mortar shells and a bomb, the CTD official said.

He added that the arrested suspects had admitted to receiving money from RAW for carrying out killings in Pakistan and had links with a banned separatist outfit.

CTD hunting gang leader

Khan said Salman fled abroad after the Badin killing, first to a Gulf state and then to Nepal. His accomplices Arsalan, Talha and Umair were later arrested in August, while further arrests are expected.

The CTD also displayed a chart outlining the structure of the network, financial flows, and connections with travel agencies that facilitated the suspects’ movements.

The official confirmed that the arrested suspects had prior criminal records and were used as proxies by RAW. “This is the first time that those who carried out reconnaissance and later executed the hit themselves have been directly caught.”

He vowed to bring the arrested men to justice and said efforts were under way, with federal assistance, to arrest Salman abroad.

Previous arrests linked to RAW network

This is not the first time authorities have made arrests linked to RAW network in Pakistan.

In June, Sindh police arrested four RAW-linked operatives in Karachi, while in May, CTD Punjab detained three RAW agents who planned to target key sites during Eid.

Explosives, detonators and maps were allegedly recovered from them.

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However, the most high-profile RAW arrest came in March 2016, when Indian spy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav was captured in Balochistan. In 2017, he was sentenced to death by a military court.