Lt-Col Habib entrapped, Kulbhushan caught

ISLAMABAD: India is believed to have entrapped and kidnapped from Kathmandu a retired Pakistani Lt Col to make it a case of having apprehended an “ISI spy” and equate it with the case of RAW agent and saboteur Kulbhushan Yadav. The facts, however, are quite contrary in both the cases.

Although, it was not expected from a retired Lt Col of Pakistan Army, Muhammad Habib Zahir, to fall into RAW’s trap in such a fashion, yet electronically and through other evidence it can be proved that the Lt Col was snared and kidnapped.

All evidence is available with the family and security agencies here regarding how through an email Col Habib applied for the job, who called him from the UK inviting him to travel to Kathmandu for the interview, when and through which airlines he had travelled, what mobile numbers the retired officer was using and when did he got missing.

As against him, serving Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Yadav was given a new identity by RAW, issued a fresh passport with the name of Mubarak Hussain Patel and stationed in Iran to work against Pakistan. Yadav was caught while operating in Balochistan in the first week of March last year but till the announcement coming from Pakistan by end March, no one including the Indian government or his family spoke about him from India.

Lt Col (retd) Habib’s family reacted immediately and raised their apprehensions about his possible kidnapping by India from Nepal as soon as their contact with Habib was cut off. The matter was also reported to the police here.

According to the available information, Lt Col Habib served in the artillery, had retired from service on 31 Oct, 2014 and was employed in Rafhan Mills at Faisalabad. Just over a few months ago, he reportedly posted his CV on LinkedIn and a United Nations website. In response to his CV a month ago, a person named Mr Mark Thomson from UK cell number 00447451203722 contacted him through this email: career@stratsoluotions.biz (Website is hosted in India) and on cellphone as well, stating that he has been shortlisted for the job of the Vice President/Zonal Director. The record of the email conversation is also available with the family and law enforcement agencies.

Mr Habib was offered salary package of US$3,500-8,500 per month and was asked to visit Kathmandu, Nepal, for the interview on 6 April, 2017. He was sent a business class ticket from Lahore-Oman-Kathmandu by Oman Airlines. Travel records show that the officer traveled to Oman by flight number WY344 on 5 April. One Javed Ansari received Lt Col Muhammad Habib at Oman and handed him over Nepal Cell no 009779813848689.

Pakistani authorities found that www.stratsolutions.biz is hosted in India with the name of Big-Rock and protection to the website was given by Privacy Protect Australia. Presently, the website has been closed and no data is available. Their twitter account is also closed now whereas the UK cell no 00447451203722 of ‘Mr Thomposon’ has been identified as a fake, rather is an internet/computer generated number. It was being used on telephone calling VOIP application. 

Record shows that Habib arrived in Kathmandu on 6th April, 2017 and the same day he left Kathmandu airport for Lumbini by Buddah Air. At 1300 on 6th April, 2017 he sent a message from his cell to his wife that he has landed at Lumbini, municipality 5kms away from the Indian border safely. Since then, his cell numbers (Nepal and Pakistan) are switched off and no trace of him has been found.

As against this clear case of entrapment and kidnapping, Kulbhushan Yadav was a great embarrassment for India. Yesterday, the ISPR announced the confirmation of death sentence of this RAW agent and serving Indian naval officer, a commander, for his involvement in espionage and terrorism activities against Pakistan.

The Indian spy was tried through the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) and he was awarded death sentence under the Pakistan Army Act. Kulbhushan had confessed before the magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan and by impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi.

Indians are usually known for disowning their cover agents, however, in the case of Kulbhushan Yadav New Delhli is extra-sensitive. But it is interesting to note that there is no voice being raised by Kulbhushan's family.

Pakistani security officials believe that in view of this huge embarrassment, now the Indians are desperate to level the score with manifold purposes. In utter desperation, the Indians have got trapped Lt Col (retd) Habib but left behind loads of evidence exposing India’s own work.