Sindh CTD busts RAW-backed network in Karachi

Karachi (Web Desk): The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Sindh has uncovered a secret network linked to India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), operating in Karachi with the aim of executing terrorist attacks.

According to officials, four operatives were apprehended on July 8 in connection with planned acts of violence, including the targeted killing of a man in Badin.

During a press briefing held at the Central Police Office, Additional Inspector General (AIG) CTD Sindh, Azad Khan, shared details of the network’s operations.

He stated that this RAW-linked group had been involved in orchestrating terrorist activities, targeted assassinations, and had even established safe houses for its operatives across the city.

The CTD AIG also revealed that the suspects had been receiving substantial financial backing to support their missions.

The individuals taken into custody were identified as Umair Asghar, Sajjad Obaid, and Shakeel. Investigations have linked them to the murder of Abdul Rehman, which took place on May 18, 2025, in the Matli area of Badin district. Rehman was known for his charitable contributions and had no prior criminal involvement, making the motive behind his killing particularly concerning.

The incident was reportedly highlighted and celebrated by segments of Indian media following the attack.

Further inquiries led the CTD to identify a man named Sanjay Sanjeev Kumar, also known as Fauji, as the key orchestrator behind the operation. He is believed to be residing in a Gulf country and is said to have managed the entire plan from abroad. Fauji allegedly enlisted the help of Salman, a resident of Sheikhupura, to carry out the killing.

Salman flew into Karachi on May 12 and traveled to Hyderabad, where he and four accomplices conducted surveillance of the victim’s routine over a span of five days before executing the murder.

Following the incident, Salman reportedly fled Pakistan, first to a Gulf nation and later to Nepal.

Investigations suggest that RAW financed the entire operation, using various channels to discreetly transfer funds. CTD officials displayed a detailed flowchart during the press conference, outlining the network’s structure, the roles of each operative, financial transactions, communication methods, and travel logistics.

The department also confirmed the recovery of weapons, motorcycles, and mobile devices that were used in the assassination.

It was further disclosed that the arrested suspects had prior criminal records and were allegedly being used as proxies by the foreign intelligence agency.

The authorities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, are now pursuing Salman’s extradition to bring him to justice.

Azad Khan emphasized that the investigation is underway and that more arrests are expected as efforts to dismantle the network continue.