A story in British publication The Guardian accusing officials from India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of allegedly orchestrating 20 killings in Pakistan since 2020 has been widely mocked in India.
The story, which cites statements from anonymous Indian and Pakistani intelligence officials, claims that the Modi government of allegedly running a policy of targeting designated terrorists outside India since 2019 in the aftermath of the Pulwama terrorist attack.
The report also seeks to draw a connection between the charges of Canada and the US, both of who have claimed that Indian officials was involved in assassination plots against pro-Khalistan designated terrorists.
The report claimed that the killings in Pakistan were "regularly coordinated" from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where RAW reportedly established "sleeper cells" to recruit Pakistan-based killers.
The report suggested that Indian agents used social media to "infiltrate" Daesh* and Taliban** networks, recruiting Pakistanis to target terrorists from India-focussed groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT)*** and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)****.
Indians Raise Credibility Concerns
Many Indian social media users have raised credibility concerns over the Guardian's reportage, questioning if Indian intelligence officials would ever tip-off a publication which harbours a "deep animus" towards India.
"The claim that Indian intelligence has talked to this journalist, incriminating their own organisation, is preposterous.The Guardian’s animus towards India is deep. Spouting Pakistan propaganda and projecting Pakistan as a victim of Indian machinations is a new unprincipled law in journalism," remarked former Indian foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal.
Indian strategic affairs expert Sushant Sareen accused Guardian of a copy-paste job of a handout given to it by critics of India in Pakistan.
Guardian's Report to Benefit Modi, Observers Say
Backers of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP have commented that the charges in the report would benefit Modi electorally in the upcoming election, as those killed in Pakistan since 2020 have been designated terrorists in India.
"The Guardian has come out with a report claiming that Indian agencies went on a killing spree in Pakistan. Apparently, some Einstein in the Western establishment believes a story like this will serve to shame Modi before the polls. You clueless morons," stated Ajit Datta, an Indian author.
Ratan Sharda, another author linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said that the Guardian report had "strengthened" Modi's image further, given the fact that a strong stance against terrorism has been a major plank of the BJP.
India-watchers in the US also reckoned that the Guardian has inadvertently boosted Modi's domestic ratings.
"According to the Guardian, India’s external intelligence agency (RAW) tricked a potential Islamic State recruit into assassinating a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander in Pakistan. The story leans heavily on anonymous sourcing, but if true, it will only help Modi in Indian elections," stated Sadanand Dhume, a Washington DC-based columnist with The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
*banned terrorist group in Russia, India and many other countries
**under UN sanctions
***banned terrorist group
****banned terrorist group