ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Saturday announced the arrest of a local fisherman allegedly coerced by Indian intelligence to conduct espionage activities inside Pakistan. The arrest, he said, thwarted another Indian attempt to defame Pakistan after the failure of its earlier operation titled “Operation Sindoor.”
Speaking alongside Minister of State for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry at a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar said India was using covert tactics and propaganda to compensate for its failures in both military and diplomatic fronts. “After losing on the battlefield and failing in diplomacy, India has turned to disinformation and planted operations,” he stated.
The arrested fisherman, identified as Ejaz Mallah from Thatta district, was allegedly detained by the Indian Coast Guard in September while fishing near Indian waters. According to Tarar, Mallah was pressured by Indian intelligence officers to carry out spying missions inside Pakistan in exchange for money and under threats of imprisonment.
Tarar revealed that Indian handlers instructed Mallah to acquire Pakistan Navy, Army, and Rangers uniforms complete with name tags and fittings as part of a plan to fabricate evidence for propaganda purposes. He was also asked to gather Pakistani currency, SIM cards, cigarettes, lighters, and matchboxes to make the scheme appear credible.
Mallah reportedly complied but was arrested by Pakistani law enforcement agencies while attempting to cross back to India. “This arrest is proof of India’s ongoing campaign to malign Pakistan internationally,” Tarar said, confirming that investigations are underway and security agencies remain vigilant.
Tarar suggested that the plot could be linked to Indian Navy drills near the Gujarat Kutch border, claiming India uses such exercises as cover for secret operations. He accused Indian media of spreading misinformation to fan anti-Pakistan narratives worldwide.
In a video statement shown during the briefing, Mallah confessed he was promised freedom and financial benefits if he cooperated with Indian intelligence. He admitted to sending photographs of the collected items to an officer named Ashok Kumar before his arrest.
Senator Talal Chaudhry added that the incident highlights India’s growing frustration and propaganda-driven hostility. “From talking about ‘Operation Sindoor-II’ to refusing handshakes in cricket, India continues to show its obsession with Pakistan,” he remarked.
Chaudhry further criticized India’s history of false claims from alleging Pakistan’s involvement in Kashmir incidents to fabricating stories about Lahore and Karachi. “How many times will India rely on lies?” he questioned, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace and warning that its soil would never be used for anti-state activities.
He concluded, “Pakistan stands firm against such conspiracies. We will continue to expose India’s deceitful campaigns before the world.”
