ISLAMABAD: Pakistan called on the United Nations on Friday to probe whether India has used Israeli spyware, Pegasus, to spy on public figures including Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Khan's phone number was on a list of potential surveillance targets for countries that bought the software from Israeli company NSO, according to an investigation by 17 international media organizations and Amnesty International, of which report was published on Sunday.
The Indian government is already facing calls for an investigation at home over allegations of spying on activists, journalists and politicians, including the main opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi.
Pakistan's foreign office in a statement accused New Delhi of "organized spying operations against its own citizens, foreigners as well as Prime Minister Imran Khan, using an Israeli origin spyware."
"In view of the gravity of these reports, we call on the relevant UN bodies to thoroughly investigate the matter, bring the facts to light, and hold the Indian perpetrators to account," the statement said.
Indian authorities did not immediately respond to the accusations.
Pegasus can infect both iPhones and Android devices, allowing the spyware's users to collect messages, photos, emails, and record calls. Microphones and cameras of the infected devices can be activated covertly.
