ATTARI (India), June 28: Minutes after stepping on home soil on Thursday after spending over 30 years in Pakistani jails, Surjeet Singh admitted that he was an Indian spy sent to Pakistan.

“I was a RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent. No one bothered for me after I got arrested. Don’t ask me too much… otherwise the BSF (Border Security Force) will get annoyed,” he told media personnel just after arriving here.

Within seconds of his making the statement, BSF officials sitting beside him took him to a nearby room for a briefing.

Ironically, during his over three decades in Pakistani jails, Surjeet had contested the fact that he was a spy. He was sentenced to death but the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

“I will never return to Pakistan,” Surjeet, who has a flowing beard, told reporters in Punjabi with his head and finger indicating a firm “no”.

“I was arrested earlier for spying. If I return, the security agencies might suspect that I have come for spying again,” he said.

He said that he had met Sarabjeet Singh, an Indian jailed in Pakistan on terrorism charges, several times. “He is fine and healthy,” Surjeet remarked.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna welcomed Surjeet’s release and expressed the hope that Pakistan would continue to make efforts to improve bilateral ties.

He also urged Islamabad to hand over Sarabjeet Singh soon.

By arrangement with the Times of India