Islamabad – Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies have arrested a fisherman allegedly working for Indian intelligence agencies, accused of spying on Islamabad and collecting sensitive materials for propaganda purposes, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry announced on Saturday.

Indian Spy Arrested During Counter-Intelligence Operation

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar revealed that the suspect, identified as Ijaz Mallah, a fisherman from Sindh’s Thatta district, had been recruited by Indian intelligence after being detained by the Indian Coast Guard in September 2025.

“In September this year, when he was out fishing, he was arrested by the Indian coast guard and taken to an undisclosed location, where he was coerced and forced to carry out tasks for the Indian intelligence agency,” Tarar said.

Mallah was reportedly monitored by Pakistani intelligence agencies upon his return and apprehended while attempting to return to India after completing his assigned tasks.

Assigned to Collect Military Uniforms and Local Items

According to Tarar, the accused was instructed to procure uniforms of the Pakistan Navy, Army, and Sindh Rangers, including nametags and insignia, as part of a wider plan by Indian intelligence to stage propaganda operations and misinformation campaigns against Pakistan.

“He was also tasked with purchasing Pakistani currency, cigarettes, lighters, and Zong SIM cards, everyday items that could be used in staged footage or false flag operations,” Tarar explained, showing images of the recovered materials.

The minister emphasized that Pakistan’s intelligence services had kept the suspect under surveillance, intercepting him as he attempted to cross back into Indian waters.

Confession Video Released

A video confession of the arrested man was released during the briefing. In the video, Ijaz Mallah stated that he accepted the offer out of fear of imprisonment and in exchange for money.

“After catching me, they (Indian coast guards) took me to a jail in an undisclosed location, where I was interrogated by an Indian secret agency official,” Mallah said in the video. “He told me that if I worked for them, they would let me go.”

The fisherman admitted to sending photos of the items to an Indian intelligence handler identified as Ashok Kumar before being arrested by Pakistani security agencies.

India’s Propaganda Efforts and Diplomatic Setbacks

Tarar said India’s alleged use of civilians for espionage reflected its growing frustration over Pakistan’s diplomatic and strategic successes.

“Following the failure of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ India launched a series of false narratives to tarnish Pakistan’s image,” the information minister stated. “India is unsettled by Pakistan’s growing prestige internationally.”

He added that the recent incident might be linked to ongoing Indian naval exercises near Kutch and Gujarat, suggesting a possible attempt to connect the operation to regional military drills.

‘After Kulbhushan, They Are Using Fishermen’

Drawing parallels to the 2016 arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, Tarar remarked, “After Kulbhushan Yadav, they are now resorting to using common fishermen because they can’t risk sending commissioned officers disguised as businessmen.”

Jadhav, a serving Indian naval officer, had confessed to orchestrating sabotage and funding terror networks within Pakistan. His arrest, according to Islamabad, provided concrete proof of India’s covert operations aimed at destabilising Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Karachi.

Similarly, in earlier decades, figures such as Sarabjit Singh were convicted for their involvement in cross-border attacks in Punjab and other parts of Pakistan.

Pakistan has also submitted multiple dossiers to the United Nations and other international bodies (in 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2024) containing documentary, financial, and forensic evidence of India’s hand in cross-border terrorism and extrajudicial killings on Pakistani soil. These dossiers remain a cornerstone of Islamabad’s case against New Delhi’s propaganda campaigns and covert destabilization efforts.

The information minister termed the latest arrest a major success for Pakistan’s security apparatus, reaffirming that the country’s intelligence agencies remain vigilant against any attempts at espionage or sabotage.

“Pakistan’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies are fully alert, ready to counter any conspiracy,” Tarar said, calling the case “a glaring example of how far India will go to malign Pakistan.”

Tarar and Chaudhry stressed that Pakistan’s evidence, from Kulbhushan Jadhav’s confession to Ijaz Mallah’s arrest, highlights a continued pattern of Indian interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs through covert channels and information warfare.

Also See: Afghanistan Learning Propaganda Tactics from India for Disinformation Warfare: Attaullah Tarar