Pakistan is unrealistic but suggested that India should adopt covert operations to retaliate for Pakistan’s alleged support of militant groups targeting Indian civilians and soldiers. This strategy of shadow warfare has been refined over time and was notably tested in Pakistan before being used elsewhere, including against dissidents in Western countries.
India’s use of covert tactics is not a recent development. In 2012, General V.K. Singh led a botched assassination attempt against the Kashmiri militant leader Syed Salahuddin. A few years later, in 2013, India was rumored to be behind the murder of Nasiruddin Haqqani, who was accused of bombing the Indian embassy in Kabul. But it wasn’t until Modi’s re-election in 2021 that these covert operations grew bolder and more widespread, signaling a shift in the dynamics of South Asian geopolitics.
Experts argue that these covert killings could further destabilize an already volatile region, where the decades-long tension between India and Pakistan has fueled conflicts, border clashes, and proxy wars. Pakistani officials have raised alarms over the growing instability, urging global powers like the U.S. to look into the allegations of RAW’s involvement in such operations.
The international repercussions are equally significant. The U.S. and Canada have both uncovered similar covert Indian operations targeting the Sikh diaspora. A 2023 U.S. federal indictment revealed that Vikash Yadav, a RAW officer, attempted to orchestrate a hit on Pannun, a Sikh separatist living in New York. Meanwhile, Canada’s investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader in British Columbia, sparked a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
These actions, while framed by India as counterterrorism measures, have raised serious concerns globally. Critics argue that they risk further alienating India’s neighbors and weakening international trust in its commitment to regional peace and stability.
Despite the growing international scrutiny, India’s government remains tight-lipped, insisting that its operations are justified in the name of national security. As both India and Pakistan face domestic challenges—Pakistan grappling with economic woes and India confronting mounting international criticism over human rights—this covert campaign adds a dangerous layer to an already fraught geopolitical situation.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE