ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Saturday asked President Hassan Rouhani not to allow India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) to use Iranian soil to create unrest in Pakistan.
“There is one concern that RAW is involved in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan, and sometimes also uses the soil of our brother country, Iran,” the army chief told the visiting dignitary. “I request, they should be told to stop these activities and allow Pakistan to achieve stability,” the COAS said, according to Inter-Services Public Relations.
The demand by army chief comes two days after security forces arrested a RAW spook in Balochistan’s Chaman area.
Kulbhushan Yadav is said to be originally from Indian Navy where he served as a commissioned officer. He is claimed to have entered Pakistan via Iran and is also reportedly having a valid Iranian visa. In Pakistan, he operated under fake identities and is alleged to have been working with separatist and sectarian organisations in Balochistan.
Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said the COAS discussed the issue of RAW’s involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs, especially in Balochistan, with the Iranian president. “Matters of regional security, Pakistan-Iran relations, border security and connectivity were also discussed during the meeting,” he said.
Bajwa said that recently Pakistan arrested an Indian intelligence officer from Balochistan for his involvement in ‘subversive activities’ in the country which was a solid proof of Indian involvement in Pakistan. RAW sometimes also uses the land of Iran for such activities, he said. The COAS also highlighted security challenges being faced by Pakistan, he added.
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