This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Pakistan Says It Has Captured Indian Spy In Baluchistan Province

Pakistan Says It Has Captured Indian Spy In Baluchistan Province
JAMMU, INDIA - AUGUST 17: The BSF personnels patrolling on the fence at International Border, Suchetgarh about 30 km from Jammu on August 17, 2013 in Jammu India. Since last 11 days Pakistan has been violating ceasefire which has kept the BSF on high alert manning the LoC and the IB. The Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami had recently visited the jawans on the BSF Octroi and expressed contentment over the jawans keeping strict vigil on the International Border. (Photo by Nitin Kanotra/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
JAMMU, INDIA - AUGUST 17: The BSF personnels patrolling on the fence at International Border, Suchetgarh about 30 km from Jammu on August 17, 2013 in Jammu India. Since last 11 days Pakistan has been violating ceasefire which has kept the BSF on high alert manning the LoC and the IB. The Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami had recently visited the jawans on the BSF Octroi and expressed contentment over the jawans keeping strict vigil on the International Border. (Photo by Nitin Kanotra/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Pakistan made an official protest to India on Friday after detaining a man it says is an Indian spy who illegally entered the country and was captured on Thursday in the violence-plagued province of Baluchistan.

India's foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that Pakistan's foreign secretary had taken up the matter with the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad but denied the man is a spy.

"The said individual has no link with the Government since his premature retirement from the Indian Navy," the spokesman said in a statement. "We have sought consular access to him."

It is absolute nonsense that any Indian naval officers would be found somewhere in Quetta: Tarek Fatah pic.twitter.com/mj3G9wHlBs

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 25, 2016

This is an act of desperation by Islamabad,they're carrying out genocide in Balochistan:Tarek Fatah on arrest of alleged RAW officer in Pak

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 25, 2016

Tensions are already high between the nuclear-armed nations after India blamed Pakistan-based militants for a January attack on an Indian air base, in which seven military personnel were killed.

"(Pakistan) conveyed our protest and deep concern on the illegal entry into Pakistan by an RAW officer and his involvement in subversive activities in Baluchistan and Karachi," Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday, referring to a message conveyed to India's ambassador.

RAW is Research and Analysis Wing, the country's main external intelligence agency.

Pakistan believes that India is supporting separatists in the resource-rich Baluchistan province, as well as militants fighting the state from the lawless tribal areas. It also sees India as fuelling strife in the volatile city of Karachi.

India denies any such interference and has itself accused Pakistan of backing militants fighting Indian security forces in its part of the divided Kashmir region, of helping militants to launch attacks elsewhere in India and backing the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Pakistan say it only offers diplomatic support to the Muslim people of Kashmir living under what it says is heavy-handed Indian rule. It denies backing militant attacks in India.

A Pakistani military official in Baluchistan told Reuters the alleged RAW spy was an Indian navy officer. Another Pakistani official gave the same information.

Both declined to be identified because they were not authorised to give details of the incident to the media.

One of the officials said the man had been moved to Islamabad for interrogation.

The neighbouring countries have fought three wars since 1947, two of them over Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part.

Baluchistan's provincial interior minister, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, told reporters that the arrest "proved Indian involvement" in his province.

Last year Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the RAW was determined on annihilating Pakistan.

"RAW has been formed to undo Pakistan and to wipe Pakistan off the map," Asif said in a television interview.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has sought to improve ties with India since his election in 2013, but his efforts are widely considered to have caused friction with the army, which sees relations with India as its domain.

Last December Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise stopover in Pakistan to meet Sharif, the first visit by an Indian premier in more than a decade, raising hopes that stop-start negotiations might finally make progress after decades of hostility.

Contact HuffPost India

Also on HuffPost:

Engagement Ceremony Of Cricketer Suresh Raina

Cricketer Suresh Raina Ties The Knot

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.