Pakistan police arrest six in Karachi over alleged links to Indian spy network

Pakistani counterterrorism police on Saturday claimed to have arrested six suspected facilitators of India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), during a major joint operation with federal security forces.

The arrests were made in Karachi following an investigation into the targeted killing of Abdul Rehman, a 45-year-old man, who was gunned down in Badin's Matli on May 18.

Officials said the probe uncovered a “major RAW-backed terrorist network” operating in Pakistan’s largest city.

The detainees - identified as Umair, Sajjad, Ubaid, Shakeel, Arsalan and Talha Umair - were allegedly working as local agents for RAW and have admitted to receiving Indian funding for targeted killings in Pakistan, according to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

Authorities also linked the suspects to the banned Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA), a separatist group long accused of carrying out attacks in southern Pakistan.

RAW safe house, foreign recruitment revealed

Investigators said RAW was financing and supporting the network through banking channels, with operations planned from abroad. The agency allegedly maintained a safe house in Karachi for militants.

A key RAW operative, identified as Sanjay Sanjeev Kumar alias “Fauji,” is accused of recruiting two Pakistanis - Salman and Arsalan - while they were working abroad.

Salman later formed a target-killing cell comprising Umair, Sajjad, Ubaid, and Shakeel, police said.

Authorities recovered 9mm pistols, .30-bore pistols, 125 mortar shells and a bomb from the suspects and registered a case against a media outlet accused of serving as a front for the network.

“RAW’s involvement in funding and directing terrorism in Karachi and other cities has become evident during the investigation,” the CTD said in a statement. The suspects have been charged under anti-terrorism laws and further investigations are ongoing.