‘I am an ISI agent but I want to stay in India’

A Pakistani flier from Dubai on Friday created a flutter in the security establishment when he approached a Delhi airport help desk and identified himself as an ISI agent who wanted to settle in India.

Muhammad Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad Rafiq, a Pakistani passport holder, had just landed in the airport from Dubai and had an onward booking to Kathmandu when he walked up to a woman help desk executive and sought her help.

“Hello, I am an ISI agent. But I don’t wish to continue any further and want to remain in India,” 38-year-old Rafiq was quoted by PTI as telling the executive.

The staffer was surprised at the request and immediately retained her composure to inform security personnel, who rushed to the desk to detain him.

Rafiq repeated to the security personnel that he was an ISI agent and wanted to call it a day. He did not want to return to Pakistan or work for the ISI and said he would like to remain in India.

The officials of the central intelligence agencies had rushed to the spot by then and took him to custody following information from airport and security authorities. He had a connecting flight to Kathmandu but he chose not to board it.

Airport officials said Rafiq had to move to transfer area upon landing in Delhi but he chose to head towards the help desk where he made his demand for remaining in India.

Sources said they are yet to ascertain the veracity of Rafiq’s claims and investigations are on. The officials of the intelligence agencies whisked him away to an undisclosed destination where he was being questioned.

It is also not clear whether Rafiq has made any official request for staying in India.

The perplexing claim comes at a time India and Pakistan are locked in a battle of wits following a military court in the neighbouring country sentenced a businessman and former Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.