ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies have arrested a fisherman who was coerced by Indian intelligence into carrying out espionage activities, ministers said on Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference in the federal capital on Saturday, Minister Tarar stated that Ijaz Mallah was initially apprehended by Indian authorities in September and taken to an undisclosed location, where he was coerced into carrying out tasks on their behalf.
He [Mallah] was offered greed that he would be compensated and threatened with up to three years imprisonment if he did not comply. He was eventually released by Indian intelligence agencies and sent back to Pakistan with certain tasks,” the minister added.
Tarar also said that the fisherman was instructed by Indian agencies to procure uniforms of the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Rangers, along with local SIM cards and phone bills, for espionage purposes.
The information minister went on to say that Pakistani intelligence agencies monitored his activities and took him into custody. “Mallah was apprehended while returning to India after completing the tasks.”
A video of Malah’s confession was released, in which he said Indian agents had threatened him with imprisonment if he refused to cooperate.
Tarar said India is reportedly unsettled by Pakistan’s recent strategic and diplomatic successes, prompting such attempts at sabotage.
This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.
