ISLAMABAD:
An Indian national, Usman, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Pakistan on charges of espionage and terrorism, once again drawing attention to New Delhi’s state-sponsored activities inside the country.
Usman, son of Abdul Rehman, who also holds Afghan citizenship, was arrested by security forces at the Chaman border in Balochistan while attempting to cross into Pakistan.
According to sources, Usman had been under surveillance for several months before his arrest. Intelligence reports indicated his involvement in espionage and terrorist activities aimed at destabilising the province.
He was reportedly attempting to enter Pakistan to carry out covert operations for Indian intelligence agencies.
This conviction comes against the backdrop of earlier incidents of Indian espionage in Pakistan. In March 2016, Pakistani intelligence agencies arrested Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, marking a significant milestone in the fight against terrorism and exposing India’s deep-rooted involvement in state-sponsored subversion.
Jadhav, a serving officer of India’s intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was apprehended in Balochistan while actively planning terrorist operations. It was the first instance where a serving intelligence officer from one country was captured in another for orchestrating terrorist activities.
Following his arrest, Pakistani intelligence agencies unearthed Jadhav’s extensive terrorist network, which was responsible for targeting innocent Pakistani lives. During interrogation, he confessed to conducting operations in Pakistan under the direct orders of the Indian government and RAW.
The revelations that followed highlighted the breadth of India’s covert operations, not only in Pakistan but also in countries such as Canada and the United States, where similar activities later came to light.
Meanwhile, authorities have stressed the seriousness of the charges against Usman, terming his actions a direct threat to national security. Espionage and terrorism are grave offences, particularly when foreign nationals attempt to undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Usman’s dual citizenship — Indian and Afghan — has raised fresh concerns about cross-border espionage and terrorism networks. The government has urged international bodies to take note of India’s interference across its borders.
The trial, held in a special court, found Usman guilty of espionage and of supporting terrorist activities in Balochistan. His 20-year sentence is viewed as a firm signal of Pakistan’s determination to counter foreign interference on its soil.
Indian officials have yet to respond to the conviction, which comes amid already strained diplomatic ties between the two neighbours following India’s humiliating defeat in Marka-e-Haq.
