A Pakistani flier from Dubai on Friday created a flutter when he approached a help desk at the Delhi airport and identified himself as an ISI agent who wanted to settle in India.
Muhammad Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad Rafiq, a Pakistani passport holder, had arrived from Dubai and had an onward booking to Kathmandu. At the airport, he walked up to a woman passenger service executive and sought 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 stunned at the request, but immediately retained her composure and informed 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 said “he did not want to return to Pakistan or work for the ISI, and would like to remain in India”.
Officials of the central intelligence agencies had arrived at the spot by then and took him into custody.
He chose not to board his connecting flight to Kathmandu, official sources said.
The intelligence officials whisked him away to an undisclosed location where he is being questioned.
According to airport officials, Rafiq had to go to the transit area upon landing in Delhi, but chose to head towards the help desk instead.
Sources said they are yet to ascertain the veracity of Rafiq’s claims, and investigations are on. It is also not clear whether Rafiq has made an official request to stay in India.
The baffling request comes at a time India and Pakistan are locked in a battle of wits following a military court in the neighbouring country sentencing businessman and former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on espionage and sabotage charges.
As it unfolded
Rafiq chose not to board his connecting flight to Kathmandu
Intelligence officials whisked him away to an undisclosed location where he is being questioned