Indian National Turned Afghan Citizen, Usman Abdul Rehman, Sentenced to 20 Years in Pakistan

In a major development exposing cross-border terrorism networks, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has sentenced Usman Abdul Rehman, also known as Muhammad Usman and alias Hindi, to twenty years of rigorous imprisonment under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. His case has attracted a lot of attention owing to his Indian ancestry, his citizenship as an Afghan and his alleged membership in some activities associated with espionage and terrorism within the borders of Pakistan.

Official documents state that Usman Abdul Rehman was born in Sumbal, Moradabad district, Uttar Pradesh, India, and became an Afghan citizen and eventually settled in Asmat Qarar Gah, Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. Security officials disclosed that he had crossed the Pakistan-Afghanistan border more than once under different identities, and they were suspicious of his involvement in planned sabotage. The intelligence tests showed that his background and location in Afghanistan were excellent clues that he could be part of enemy intelligence groups, especially given the history of infiltration attempts using Afghan soil.

He was arrested at the Chaman border as the Pakistani security forces spotted him trying to enter into the country. After his arrest, FIR No. 18/2024 was registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Lahore in May 2024 and he is accused of possessing explosives and planning subversive actions in Pakistan. It was argued by investigators that his presence of explosive materials and suspicious movements was a clear indication that he was involved in anti-state activities and the fact that he was of Indian origin added to the suspicions of being an espionage agent.

As the case was tried in the ATC in Lahore, prosecutors brought forward detailed evidence that he was in possession of explosives and that he represented a threat to the security of Pakistan. They told the court that Rehman was not acting alone but rather within a larger network working on Afghan soil and possibly funded by foreign intelligence services. Upon investigation of the case, the court convicted him of the charges of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.

The court rendered its verdict and imposed 20 years of rigorous imprisonment on August 30, 2025. Moreover, the ATC directed that all the property that he possessed in Pakistan was to be transferred to the state. Section 382-B of the Criminal Procedure Code afforded him the same benefit as well, under which the time spent in custody may be added to the actual sentence. Usman Abdul Rehman now spends his time in Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat at Lahore under tight security.

The belief has huge security consequences to the region. Analysts posit that the case resembles previous ones of Indian operatives such as the high profile conviction of Kulbhushan Jadhav, and is a new indication of India still striving to use Afghanistan land to destabilize Pakistan. Experts caution that this and similar cases demonstrate how foreign intelligence services, especially the RAW, take advantage of the border security gaps to deploy agents, who carry explosives and seek to arrange terror attacks within Pakistan. The ruling is, therefore, a powerful message that the judiciary and the security agencies in Pakistan are on their toes and will do anything to protect national security.

So far, neither India nor Afghanistan has issued any official statement in response to the conviction. However, diplomatic observers expect this case to further strain India-Pakistan relations, especially as Islamabad has repeatedly accused New Delhi of sponsoring terrorism through Afghan soil. Legal and political experts believe that Pakistan may highlight this case at international forums to expose how foreign operatives continue to use regional instability for carrying out espionage and terrorist activities.

The sentencing of Usman Abdul Rehman is more than just the conclusion of one trial. It is a reminder of the ongoing challenges Pakistan faces from foreign-sponsored terrorism. His Indian background, Afghan residence, and attempt to infiltrate Pakistan with explosives make the case symbolic of broader regional threats. By successfully prosecuting him, Pakistan has reinforced its determination to protect national security and uphold the rule of law. The judgment serves both as a deterrent for foreign operatives and as a message of reassurance to the Pakistani people that their country remains vigilant against all threats to its peace and stability.