Islamabad summons Indian envoy; Delhi denies RAW-link charge

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 25

India and Pakistan today exchanged sharp words once again as Pakistan summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad to convey its “deep concern” over the arrest of an alleged Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer. India was quick to dismiss the charges and said the person arrested had no connection with the government since “his premature retirement from the Navy”.The Ministry of External Affairs said India had sought consular access to him. “India has no interest in interfering in internal matters of any country and firmly believes a stable and peaceful Pakistan is in the interest of all,” it said. India’s High Commissioner in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale was summoned this morning by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry and the matter was raised with him by the Pakistan Foreign Secretary.Pakistani forces have arrested a man identified as Bhushan Yadav. Pakistan claims he is a RAW agent who entered Pakistan to carry out “subversive” activities. “The Indian high commissioner was summoned by the foreign secretary on Friday 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 on Thursday identified the arrested Indian as Kul Yadav Bhushan who, he alleged, was a commander-ranking officer in the Indian Navy and was working for RAW. He claimed Bhushan was in touch with Baloch separatists and terrorists.