ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security, Moeed Yusuf on Sunday in a briefing on intelligence gathered on the blast in Lahore's Johar Town, said that the main mastermind behind the attack belonged to India and had clear links with RAW.
Addressing a press conference alongside the Punjab police chief and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, he said the mastermind of the attack which killed three people and left 24 others injured "is an Indian citizen and Indian intelligence agency RAW is in touch with him".
The IG Punjab said that all the accused in the Lahore blast have been arrested. We have all the evidence and record about Peter, the main accused. The vehicle used in the blast was also arranged by Peter. He said that on June 21, Eid Gul, an accused from Afghanistan, visited the entire area before blast.
“The terrorists involved in the blast have been arrested and the international and local characters have been identified,” he said.
Addressing the press conference Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary said, “Unfortunately, persistent terrorist incidents were being carried out in Pakistan, which time and again proved that Indian establishment and its government were fully supporting and sponsoring the terrorist network in Pakistan.”
He said that after the arrest of Indian Terrorist Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav by the Pakistan forces, Pakistan got strong evidences of India’s involvement in terrorist activities inside Pakistan.
He said that the gang active inside Pakistan was arrested and busted with close coordination of Punjab police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence.
Speaking on the occasion, Moeed Yusuf said that India sponsored the terrorist for blast in Lahore adding that we have evidence of all the contacts. The main accused involved in the blast belongs to India's intelligence agency RAW, he added.
"I want to make sure that our message is heard very clearly regarding this particular incident on the 23rd of June in Lahore. We have concrete evidence and intelligence, including financial and telephone records that point to direct Indian sponsorship of these terrorists.
"Through forensic analysis, electronic equipment which has been recovered from these terrorists, we have identified the main mastermind and the handlers of this terrorist attack and we have absolutely no doubt or reservation in informing you that the main mastermind belongs to RAW, the Indian intelligence agency, is an Indian national, and is based in India," he said.
Yusuf said Pakistan had been repeatedly saying that India was involved in terrorism against Pakistan.
Yusuf said that he would like to remind everyone that "Indian use of territory and people of third countries, which actually embarrasses other countries, is not new".
He recalled that Pakistan had submitted a dossier last year regarding Indian state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan.
"We have been constantly reminding the world of Indian actions, including a detailed dossier that was put out last November with details, minute details of finances, of action, of support coming from India," said the national security adviser.
"This event is another aspect of that process where our enemy continues to do this," he said.
Yusuf said that "very unusually" there is also evidence of "thousands of attempts of cyber attacks against our critical investigative infrastructure right after this attack on the 23rd in Lahore".
"These attacks and the number and the sophistication in some cases leaves no doubt of state sponsorship and state linkage in this case."
Yusuf also pointed out the "drama" of mysterious drones flying in the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir territory.
"What was the logic, is now very clear, and again with confidence we can put it out, that was a deflection tactic trying to divert attention of the world from the fact and they knew at that time we had not only apprehended culprits but we knew exactly what had been done behind the scenes and who was behind it."
The adviser said that the main executor, Eid Gul, has an Afghan origin and was living in Pakistan.
Yusuf said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has instructed his team "to use all possible legal and political means to get to the people outside Pakistan who are part of this international terrorist network".
"We will therefore be sharing all evidence with the international community and exposing the nefarious and real face of a state in our neighbourhood that has constantly sponsored terrorism against our innocent civilians."
