Indian intelligence agencies have cautioned that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is expected to persist with efforts to expand its espionage network in India, alongside running an intensified disinformation campaign aimed at undermining national security. Officials said that while several espionage-related cases were uncovered last year, the Pakistan-based agency continues to work systematically to widen its footprint.
According to intelligence inputs, a key component of the ISI’s strategy involves spreading false narratives, particularly targeting the Indian armed forces. These campaigns are intended to erode public trust and project the forces as weak, thereby creating internal discord. Officials indicated that disinformation operations are being designed to gain traction through social platforms and coordinated messaging.
Agencies have also flagged attempts to involve individuals and organisations in protests that question government policies. Officials said such efforts are part of a broader plan to make violence and terror appear “home-grown,” allowing Pakistan to maintain plausible deniability. The strategy reportedly includes instigating protests and attempting to turn them violent by infiltrating existing movements.
An official noted that the expansion of espionage networks, coupled with disinformation and protest mobilisation, forms part of a larger plan that also includes the creation of home-grown terror modules. Recent cases, including the busting of such a module in Faridabad, are seen as indicators of this approach.
Officials said Pakistan is currently not focusing on sending trained terrorists across the border, as many of its terror networks have weakened following Operation Sindoor. Enhanced border security has also made infiltration more difficult. As a result, agencies believe the focus has shifted to indirect methods such as espionage, propaganda and internal destabilisation.
Beyond India, intelligence inputs suggest that the ISI is placing increased emphasis on Bangladesh, where it is attempting to establish launch pads to target India’s northeastern states. Officials said this regional focus adds another layer of complexity to the security landscape.
An Intelligence Bureau official described the setting up of espionage networks and the running of disinformation campaigns as the two most serious threats currently posed by the ISI. The official warned that Pakistan is seeking to engineer widespread protests, similar to situations witnessed in Bangladesh and Nepal, with the objective of demanding regime change and weakening public confidence in state institutions.
According to agencies, the ISI plans to infiltrate protests to amplify their reach and provoke violence. While such tactics have been used earlier on a limited scale, officials said intelligence assessments indicate a push for operations on a much larger scale.
On espionage, officials said efforts to gather sensitive information, particularly related to the armed forces, have increased significantly since Operation Sindoor. Honey-trapping remains a primary recruitment method, but the ISI is also targeting individuals with ideological leanings, financial distress or personal vulnerabilities. Agencies warned that substantial funds are being earmarked to sustain and expand these networks.
These developments come amid intelligence assessments that Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is seeking to escalate tensions with India to offset internal challenges and perceived losses following Operation Sindoor. Officials said this adds to the urgency of maintaining heightened vigilance.
In response to evolving threats, the Union Home Ministry has recently launched the National Counter Terrorism Policy. The National Investigation Agency has circulated a common Anti-Terrorism Squad framework to state police forces to ensure uniform preparedness. The policy, officials said, is aimed at strengthening coordination and readiness as agencies remain on high alert against continued attempts to undermine India’s national security.
