Pakistan’s renowned defence analyst Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid, who was detained for over three months in Saudi Arabia, has disclosed that he was trapped by India’s spy agency RAW.
“Saudi government arrested me because they were told by agents of Indian spy agency RAW that I am an Iranian spy,” Hamid wrote on his official Facebook account on Monday morning.
He said the allegations were serious and the Saudis had to do their own investigations to know the truth.
“My picture with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and my two official visits to Iran were given to the Saudis as evidence that I am an Iranian agent. Also, my TV program on DIN News in which I had strongly opposed sending Pakistani troops to Yemen was exploited as evidence,” wrote Hamid, “This was the trap set for me.”
According to the defence analyst, when he reached Saudi Arabia, the RAW agents were already present there to set the trap. These agents informed the Saudis and then the Saudis launched a massive investigation to know his credentials and within weeks knew that all the allegations were false.
“The demands by Indian government that I should be handed over to India also alarmed the Saudis that something is wrong here. If I was an Iranian agent, why India was so interested that I should be handed over to India,” Hamid says.
He said his wife played a key role in negotiating with the Saudis and gave them the evidence that he was a patriot Pakistani.
“Our resistance to sending Pak troops to Yemen was based on our love for Pakistan and Ummah and not because we served Iranian interests,” Hamid writes.
According to him, the statements by Pakistani ministers of PML-N government against him created more confusion for the Saudis that delayed his release. “I was not helped by the PML-N government at all.” “But once the Saudis were satisfied that I was not an Iranian spy, I was released with dignity and respect. Ramazan, Eid holidays and then Hajj vacations delayed the release but finally after Hajj we were sent back with dignity on exit stamp, not deported.”
Earlier, Pakistani officials claimed that Pakistani security agencies and foreign office officials played a key role in Hamid’s release.
Hamid went on to say that if he were an Iranian spy, the Saudis would have never released him within weeks. They would rather have hanged or deported him otherwise. “Spies in Saudi Arabia are not released at all!” Hamid says.
He also clarified the controversies surrounding his wife, Tayyaba, who was confused with Khanum Tayyaba Bokhari, a Shia scholar who appears on TV programmes.
“This is again a deliberate lie being spread to prove that we are Iranian agents. My wife stayed in Medina throughout even when her visa was expired and the Saudi govt did not deport her either.”
Hamid has also vowed soon to expose the “snakes, traitors and enemies” involved in this sinister conspiracy.