Fisherman Ejaz Mallah was arrested by Pakistani authorities after being forced by Indian intelligence to spy for them
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar speaks with Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry during a press conference at the Press Information Department on Saturday. Photo: PID
A Pakistani fisherman allegedly recruited by Indian intelligence to carry out espionage activities in the country has been arrested, Information Minister Atta Tarar said on Saturday, claiming the move prevented another attempt by New Delhi after the failure of ‘Operation Sindoor’.
Accompanied by the Interior Minister, Senator Talal Chaudhry, the Information Minister addressed a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday. He said that India has not been able to accept its defeat on the battlefield and is now trying to launch another operation through human planting and infiltration.
“After the failure of ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the embarrassing defeat in the four-day war, the Indian state resorted to disinformation campaigns because they could not prove their mettle on the battlefield and in the diplomatic arena – hence they resorted to propaganda warfare,” the minister said.
Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have exposed India’s plan to use Pakistani fisherman Ejaz Mallah for anti-government activities. Indian agencies tasked him with purchasing security force uniforms and other items. Pakistan’s intelligence agency is quick to respond to his suspicious activities… pic.twitter.com/NNqlsOTNDs
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) 1 November 2025
He said a Pakistani fisherman named Ejaz Mallah was apprehended by Pakistani law enforcement agencies after being forced by Indian intelligence to work for them.
“He was arrested by the Indian Coast Guard in September while fishing and taken to an undisclosed location,” Tarar added. “He was forced by the Indian intelligence service to perform tasks in exchange for compensation, with threats of imprisonment if he refused.”
According to the minister, Mallah was eventually released and tasked with procuring Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Army and Sindh Rangers uniforms with specific nameplates and fittings as part of a larger Indian intelligence plan to launch propaganda against Pakistan.
“He was also asked to get Pakistani currency, cigarettes, matchboxes, lighters and SIM cards,” Tarar said, adding that Mallah collected these items and was apprehended by law enforcement while on his way to India.
“This is an example of India’s attempt to malign Pakistan because of their inability to accept Pakistan’s successes,” Tarar claimed. He said the investigation was ongoing and Pakistani security agencies remained on high alert.
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The minister added that the activity may be linked to the Indian Navy’s exercises in the Taj or Bhrad area, suggesting that it could be part of a wider conspiracy to link such operations with these exercises.
He said India had tried to malign Pakistan internationally and alleged that military exercises along the Gujarat-Kutch border were being used as cover for “suspicious activities”. He further alleged that Indian media was actively circulating disinformation to fuel anti-Pakistan sentiments.
In a recorded statement issued during the press conference, Mallah said he belonged to Thatta district and was detained while fishing in August 2025. He claimed that Indian officials promised him immediate release and financial benefits if he agreed to cooperate. After returning to Pakistan and sending photographs of the acquired items to an Indian officer identified as Ashok Kumar, he was arrested while trying to cross back, according to the officials.
Addressing the presser, Senator Chaudhry said the foiled attempt showed India’s continued frustration. “Sometimes they talk about launching Operation Sindoor-II, sometimes Indian cricketers refuse to shake hands with Pakistani players or avoid receiving trophies,” he said.
Highlighting India’s attempts to involve third countries in fabricated narratives against Pakistan, the PML-N senator recalled past incidents in Pahalgam.
“Even in Pahalgam, India claimed that a Chinese satellite phone was recovered. First they claimed that someone came from Pakistan, then they implicated China to create the impression that they are challenging China or standing with it,” Chaudhry said, describing it as part of India’s ongoing propaganda efforts.
Chaudhry hit out at what he called India’s repeated propaganda campaigns against Pakistan, citing earlier fabricated allegations.
“I want to ask India, how many times will you engage in propaganda? First they claimed that Lahore was destroyed, then that Karachi Port was set on fire, and once they claimed that the fifth floor of Kabul’s Serena Hotel was under ISI control. We showed pictures that proved that only two floors existed. This is how their propaganda works,” Chaudhry said.
He emphasized that Pakistan’s soil is not used against any country and warned against attempts to exploit it for anti-Pakistan activities.
“We can say with full responsibility that Pakistan’s territory is never used against anyone. We will not allow proxies or agents like Kulbhushan to exploit our country for propaganda against us. We will continue to confront such attempts everywhere and expose them,” he added.
