After Tensions with Iran, Islamabad Claims India Involved in the Assassination of Two Pakistani Citizens

On Thursday, February 25, Pakistan's Foreign Minister stated that the country has credible evidence indicating that individuals linked to India were involved in the murder of two Pakistani citizens. These killings on Pakistani soil have heightened tensions between the two countries, which are fierce regional rivals. Pakistan's claims come after Islamabad recently conducted a retaliatory attack on targets in Iran, which it claims were bases for militants. Meanwhile, New Delhi has alleged that Islamabad supports Islamist militants attacking the disputed 'Himalaya' region in Kashmir, which is divided between the two countries. Both Pakistan and India possess nuclear weapons and have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. According to Islamabad, the murder of its two citizens was carried out by a 'complex international organization' with members scattered across Pakistan and other countries. Pakistan claims that documents and evidence show that two Indian agents were behind these assassinations, which were executed last year by local mercenaries in the Pakistan-controlled area of the Himalayas. Islamabad stated that the local mercenaries were arrested and tried, and identified the Indian agents as Yugesh Kumar and Ashok Kumar, who organized the crime. Muhammad Sirus Qazi, Pakistan's Foreign Minister, identified the victims as Shahid Latif and Muhammad Riaz but did not disclose their backgrounds or why India would target them in Pakistan. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs rejected Pakistan's claims, describing the accusation as an attempt to conduct 'malicious and misleading propaganda' against New Delhi. According to Pakistan's Foreign Minister, the assassination of its citizens is similar to operations recently conducted in Canada and the U.S., indicating that India has engaged in transnational and global assassination attempts. Pakistan's allegations against India come at a time when Canada and the U.S. separately accused New Delhi of involvement in assassinations on their soil. India has denied these accusations.