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• Links Matli targeted killing to Indian intelligence and SRA
• Victim shot dead on May 8; Indian media celebrated incident
• Killing linked to ‘transnational terrorism’ involving RAW handler Sanay Sanjeev Kumar
KARACHI: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Saturday claimed that it has unearthed a network of India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), which used Pakistanis and a separatist outfit in Sindh to carry out the targeted killing of a well-known social worker in Matli, Badin district.
CTD chief Additional Inspector General (AIG) Azad Khan told a press conference that the killing was an outcome of ‘transnational terrorism’ involving a Gulf-based handler of RAW.
He said Abdul Rehman, a man actively engaged in social welfare activities in Matli, was targeted by three suspects on May 8, 2025. He added that the Indian media was ‘rejoiced’ over the killing by portraying the victim as “an enemy of Bharat”.
He opined that this targeted killing was carried out in the background of the May 9-10 war between India and Pakistan in which New Delhi had been “defeated”.
The AIG said law enforcement agencies were expecting hostile activities from India following that conflict. With the help of technology, four suspects were arrested on July 8, and their links with RAW were established.
CTD claimed that a Gulf-based RAW agent, Sanay Sanjeev Kumar alias Fauji, was involved in planning the killing. He had recruited Salman, a Gulf-based resident of Sheikhupura.
Salman reportedly arrived in Karachi on May 12, proceeded to Hyderabad, while four other suspects travelled from Muridke and Sheikhupura. Three of them carried out the killing in Matli, while Salman and another suspect stayed at a Hyderabad hotel to coordinate the attack. They remained in contact with Sanjay during the operation. Later, Salman left Karachi for the Gulf and eventually escaped to Nepal.
Mr Khan further claimed RAW had provided “huge sums of money” to the network through banks and other channels. He added that the banned separatist group, the Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA), had facilitated RAW in executing the targeted killing.
Terming the incident as “state-sponsored terrorism,” the CTD chief said India’s hostile agency had also been found involved in other terrorist attacks and targeted killings in Pakistan, often using criminal groups and proxies.
During the press conference, the CTD also showed slides to the media containing documentary evidence of links between the RAW agent Sanjay and the killers.
To a question, the AIG said since it was ‘transnational terrorism’ case, the Pakistan government was likely to take it up at international forums. He added this was also a case of ‘terror financing’ that would be highlighted at every forum.
He revealed that the arrested suspects had criminal records and were also planning to target other individuals named by RAW.
Responding to another question, the CTD chief clarified that the victim, Abdul Rehman, had no political or criminal record. “He was a normal citizen with a good reputation, actively involved in welfare activities in Matli. He was a landlord and had no political affiliation,” the AIG said.
He admitted that prosecution in transnational terrorism cases was challenging but assured that the CTD would pursue the case to ensure successful prosecution.
Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2025
