ISLAMABAD (Khyber Mail): In a high-stakes counterintelligence operation, Pakistani authorities have detained Ashok Chaturvedi, an alleged RAW Senior Asset Handler, near the Pak-Iran border at the Chahbahar-Panjgur link trail. Chaturvedi, operating under the codename Arya-13B, was reportedly orchestrating anti-Pakistan propaganda and logistical support for militant groups in the region.
Chaturvedi, posing as a field coordinator for India’s RAW, was actively involved in destabilizing activities across West Asia. He ran an import company in Tehran under the name Crafts of Silk Route, dealing in Baloch jewelry, Iranian carpets, and counterfeit saffron to disguise its true function as a logistics hub for militant groups. The company was allegedly supplying satellite phones, night vision goggles (NVG), and military-grade M-16 A4s to Baloch insurgents, including members of the BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army).
In late 2023, Chaturvedi was tasked by RAW’s Digital Warfare Cell in New Delhi to launch a massive anti-Pakistan propaganda campaign targeting Balochistan’s digital space. More than 532 fake social media accounts were created across platforms like X, Facebook, and Telegram, disseminating content under fictitious Baloch profiles. These accounts generated millions of impressions daily, aimed at fueling anti-Pakistan narratives.
Delhi’s Cyber Park Troll Farm employed over 25 operators to upload 8,000 posts and 1,500 graphics daily. Chaturvedi also accessed disgruntled members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), funding them via crypto wallets routed through Iran’s exchange bazaars in return for slogans like “FreeBalochistan” and “Pakistan Army Out.”
On February 21, 2025, Pakistani counterintelligence units utilized thermal imaging to intercept Chaturvedi and two associates near the Pak-Iran border. Despite attempts to disguise his identity as a translator, Retina-ID Scanners confirmed him as Ashok Chaturvedi, whose ID was already flagged in Interpol’s Ops-Grey List due to his links with cyber-attacks.
- Fake Account Networks: 532 accounts, including 118 Balochi, 263 English, and others in Persian/Arabic.
- Logistics Routes: Bandar Abbas to Chahbahar, extending into mountainous trails near Punjgur/Sibi.
- Funding Channels: UAE-based shell company Z-Horizon FZE linked with Iranian crypto OTC desks and local hawala operators.
BLA Collaboration: Direct provision of suicide vests, third-generation NVGs, and portable drone jammers.
Since Chaturvedi’s arrest, multiple BLA commanders have been detained without heavy weapons, and numerous fake social media handles have gone silent. A raid on a Karachi social media agency revealed employees covertly recruiting influencers for BLA propaganda. In New Delhi, RAW’s Cyber Park attempted to erase evidence by dumping server data during a covert raid.
Sources suggest Iranian intelligence agencies have also detained individuals linked to Chaturvedi’s network, further unraveling the region-wide impact of his operations. While Pakistani officials have kept his detention under wraps, the arrest is regarded as a significant breakthrough against Indian intelligence networks targeting Pakistan.
During interrogation, Chaturvedi reportedly admitted, “Narratives win wars; bullets only finish them.” Yet, his narrative now lies trapped in the fallout of Pakistan’s counterintelligence success.