Pakistan seeks Iran’s help in probing ‘Indian spy’ case

NEW DELHI: The Pakistan government has sought Iran’s help in investigating the activities of Kulbhushan Jhadav, an Indian national arrested in Balochistan on charges of spying, according to a report on Thursday.

A letter written by Pakistan’s interior ministry further sought Iran’s help to identify other agents of RAW, India’s external spy agency, Geo News channel reported. The letter also called on Iran to arrest and hand over another Indian spy Rakesh alias Rizwan.

India has dismissed Pakistan’s allegations that Jhadav, a former officer of the Indian Navy, was involved in espionage. Minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday accused Pakistan of “cooking up” stories to defame India and of releasing a “doctored video” in which Jhadav is seen purportedly confessing to New Delhi’s alleged involvement in terrorist activities in Balochistan.

Jhadav, who was arrested by intelligence agencies in Balochistan, is believed to have been running a business in the Iranian port of Chabahar.

Pakistan also said on Thursday it had apprised the European Union and major capitals about the arrest of Jhadav. Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria told a weekly newspaper that “the whole world saw the Indian agent’s confessional statement”. Zakaria said Pakistan has shared “evidence” regarding India’s alleged involvement in “terror activities” with the United Nations.

A report in The Express Tribune newspaper said the backchannel contacts between the national security advisers (NSAs) of India and Pakistan to discuss security and terrorism-related issues was “in danger of being scrapped” after Indian NSA Ajit Doval’s name was linked to the controversy created by the arrest of Jhadav.

Meanwhile, Iran on Thursday sought to clear the air over reports that Jhadav had been operating from its soil. A statement issued by the Iranian embassy in Islamabad said some elements were trying to spread “undignified” and “offensive” rumours to undermine Iran-Pakistan relations. Iran had “always proved itself as a confident partner and neighbour” for Pakistan, whose western borders “have never been threatened”, the statement said.