Rajasthan Intelligence officials said Saturday that they had arrested a Jaisalmer resident for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The arrest comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations following the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives.
Officials said that during the monitoring of the strategically important and highly sensitive international border area of Jaisalmer district, the activities of the suspect, Pathan Khan, resident of Zero RD Mohangarh, Jaisalmer, were found suspicious.
Officials claim that Pathan Khan went to Pakistan in 2013 where he came in contact with the officials of the Pakistani intelligence agency. “He was lured with money and received training in espionage in Pakistan,” one official said. “After 2013 too, Khan kept visiting Pakistan and meeting the officials of the Pakistani intelligence agency and, lured by money, he was continuously sharing sensitive and confidential information of Jaisalmer International Border with them during his meetings with Pakistani handlers and through social media.”
According to sources, Khan also provided Indian SIM cards to Pakistani intelligence officials for the purpose of spying in return for money.
The State Special Branch (SSB), which tracks spying activities carried out by Pakistani intelligence agencies in the state, said that Khan was interrogated by various central agencies at the Joint Interrogation Centre, Jaipur. On confirmation of the above facts, a case was registered against Pathan Khan under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and he was arrested, it said.
Jaisalmer is a strategically sensitive and important area on the international border with Pakistan as there is continuous movement of the army, including military exercises, in the area.
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