Pakistan blames India for deadly Lahore car bombing

The June 23 explosion took place outside the residence of anti-India militant leader Hafiz Saeed, who has been designated a terrorist by the US

Pakistan’s national security adviser said an investigation found India’s RAW intelligence agency was behind the incident

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Pakistani security officials inspect the scene a day after a bomb blast near the residence of Hafiz Saeed, head of banned Islamic charity Jamat ud Dawa, in Lahore. At least three people were killed and 24 others were injured. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 8:00am, 5 Jul 2021Updated: 8:00am, 5 Jul 2021

Pakistan’s national security adviser has accused India of orchestrating last month’s deadly car bombing in the eastern city of Lahore, saying on Sunday that an investigation had shown it was organised by an Indian intelligence operative.

In a news conference in Islamabad, Moeed Yousuf said the probe showed that the man was an Indian citizen living in India who works for that country’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). He did not name the alleged mastermind.

“Through the 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 no doubt in informing you that the main mastermind belongs to RAW, lives in India and is an Indian citizen.” He said Pakistan will continue its efforts to expose India’s sponsorship of such attacks internationally.

The explosion took place outside the residence of anti-India militant leader Hafiz Saeed, who himself has been designated a terrorist by the US Justice Department and has a US$10 million bounty on his head.

India accuses Saeed of helping mastermind the deadly 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed nearly 170 people at several occasions including the luxury Taj Hotel. He was unharmed in the powerful explosion in Lahore’s Johar Town neighbourhood that killed three and wounded 24.

India and Pakistan routinely accuse the other of carrying out clandestine attacks on the other’s territory.