In response to a report published by The Guardian alleging the Indian government’s involvement in orchestrating killings in Pakistan, the External Affairs Ministry and officials have vehemently denied the accusations.

The report claimed that the Indian government was behind nearly 20 targeted killings in Pakistan since 2020, with a significant increase noted in 2023. These killings, allegedly carried out by unknown gunmen, targeted individuals believed to be associated with terrorist groups.

Indian officials speaking to CNN-News18 dismissed the report as “false and malicious anti-India propaganda.” They emphasized that targeted killings in foreign countries are not a part of India’s policy. Instead, they reiterated India’s stance on addressing threats to its sovereignty, particularly in border regions.

According to Indian sources, the killings were attributed to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), suggesting that they were conducted amidst restrictions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Indian officials stressed that India does not engage in extrajudicial killings across borders and accused Pakistan of being a “terror state” involved in such activities.

Furthermore, the Indian officials reiterated their commitment to diplomatic solutions and urged Pakistan to hand over wanted criminals, including Dawood Ibrahim. They highlighted the timely sharing of dossiers with their counterparts as part of their diplomatic efforts.

The report also mentioned allegations from Pakistani officials linking the killings to Indian sleeper cells in the UAE. However, Indian officials dismissed these claims as baseless.

The accusations made by The Guardian were not the first of their kind. Previously, Canada and the US had accused India of targeting individuals critical of the government. Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the US State Department raised concerns regarding alleged assassination plots, though India denied any involvement and called for evidence to substantiate the claims.