Islamabad: A day after Pakistan claimed to have arrested an alleged RAW officer from its territory, India has clarified that the individual has no links with the government.
"The person arrested has no link with Government since his premature retirement from Indian Navy," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on the purported arrest of an Indian "RAW" agent in Balochistan.
The development follows Pakistan summoning Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale to lodge its protest over the official's "subversive activities".
"The Indian High Commissioner was summoned by the Foreign Secretary today and through a demarche conveyed our protest and deep concern on the illegal entry into Pakistan by a RAW officer and his involvement in subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi," the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti yesterday identified the "official" as Kul Yadav Bhushan who he alleged was a commander-ranking officer in the Indian Navy and was working for Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Bugti claimed that Bhushan was in contact with Baloch separatists and terrorists fuelling sectarian violence in Balochistan.
The minister, however, did not disclose the exact location of where he was arrested. However, sources said that Bhushan was arrested from Chaman area of Balochistan, which is close to the Afghanistan border. Pakistan had accused India of stoking violence in Balochistan and Karachi in the past but it is for the first time that it has claimed arresting a RAW officer.
India has dismissed all such allegations.
(With PTI inputs)
