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ISI's Dual Threat: From Khalistanis to Islamic State in Global Plot vs India

Indian intelligence agencies warn of an expanded ISI strategy to target Indian interests overseas by recruiting Pakistani-origin individuals inspired by both Khalistani separatism and the Islamic State. The plots aim at Hindu temples, diplomatic missions, and Jewish-Indian community locations, signaling an international escalation. Recent cases, like the confession of a Pakistani-origin man in Canada planning a Brooklyn attack, exemplify this activated global threat. This shift is partly seen as a retaliatory measure by Pakistan's ISI following the success of Indian counter-terror operations like Operation Sindoor.

Key Points: ISI's Global Plot: Using Khalistan, Islamic State to Hit India

  • ISI recruiting Pakistani-origin abroad
  • Targeting Hindu temples & diplomatic missions
  • Clubbing homegrown modules with international plots
  • Using lone actors for attacks
  • Avenging Indian military operations
3 min read

From Khalistan to Islamic State: ISI's expanding playbook to hit India overseas

Intel reveals ISI's expanded playbook, recruiting Pakistani-origin individuals abroad to target Indian interests via Khalistani & Islamic State-inspired attacks.

"The ISI seeks to have Indian interests hit with the help of both Khalistani elements and Islamic State-inspired persons - Intelligence Bureau Official"

New Delhi, April 10

There has been a rising concern over the number of Pakistani-origin individuals settled abroad who have associated themselves with the Islamic State. Such persons, according to Indian agencies, pose a big risk to the United States, Canada and Europe.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that these persons are trying to harm Indian interests abroad. The Islamic State has been targeting individuals of Pakistani origin with the intention of recruiting them and asking them to hit Indian interests abroad.

The official said this is more or less like what the ISI expects the Khalistan elements to do. The ISI seeks to have Indian interests hit with the help of both Khalistani elements and Islamic State-inspired persons, the official also said.

Under the radar of these elements are the Hindu Temples, Indian diplomatic missions, and locations linked to the Jewish-Indian community. This signals a major plot by the ISI which goes beyond India. It is looking for similar recruits in several other countries as well, and the intention is to hurt India internationally as well.

The ISI is devising several strategies so that it can target India. In recent months, investigations by multiple agencies revealed that the ISI was looking to set up homegrown modules. It has stepped up its propaganda narrative so that the youth tend to self-recruit and run modules.

The Faridabad module was one such example of this plan. In addition to trying to target India by setting up homegrown terror modules, it has decided to club this with a plan that goes beyond India.

The recent confession of a Pakistani-origin man in Canada is proof that the ISI has activated its international plans. Muhammad Shahzzeb Khan, a man of Pakistani origin, confessed before a US federal court to plotting an attack on a Jewish centre in Brooklyn.

Based out of Canada, he was arrested in September 2024 near the US-Canada border while trying to illegally enter the United States with the help of a human smuggler. He now faces the possibility of life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to charges related to terrorism.

He said that he was planning to strike at a Jewish centre on October 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.

Another official said that with such plans in place, the Indian missions need to remain on a state of high alert. The ISI has been tapping into lone actors to carry out such attacks, the official added.

While such an attack would hurt India's interests, it also creates fear and panic among the Indian diaspora.

The Khalistanis have done this in the US, the UK and Canada, and now the ISI wants the Islamic State terrorists to do the same.

While the Khalistan threat is immense, the plan that the ISI wants to undertake through these lone actors is extremely dangerous.

Another official said that such attacks are aimed at massive destruction. It is also meant to send a signal to India that its citizens and interests are not safe anywhere.

For the ISI, such attacks are of utmost importance, following the embarrassment Pakistan faced after Operation Sindoor. This operation carried out by the Indian Armed Forces to avenge the Pahalgam attack led to the destruction of massive terror infrastructure both in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan. In a bid to avenge this and save face, the ISI has come up with multiple plans to hurt India both within and abroad.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
It's the same old story from across the border. After Operation Sindoor, they are desperate to retaliate. But targeting innocent diaspora and places of worship is the lowest form of warfare. Our intelligence needs to be two steps ahead.
R
Rohit P
Very alarming report. My cousin lives in Canada and says the community is worried. The Khalistan issue was bad enough, now adding ISIS-inspired actors to the mix? The host countries like US and Canada must take this seriously and not let their soil be used for such plots.
S
Sarah B
While the threat is real, I hope the reporting is measured and doesn't lead to undue fear or profiling of any community abroad. We must be vigilant but also sensible. The focus should be on specific intelligence and cooperation, not broad generalizations.
V
Vikram M
The ISI's playbook is expanding because their conventional methods keep failing. They lost face after our military's successful operations. Now they are resorting to these cheap, cowardly tactics using lone wolves. Our agencies are capable, but the diaspora also needs to be aware and report suspicious activity.
K
Karthik V
This is why strong national security and a robust foreign policy are non-negotiable. We cannot be soft. The message to Pakistan and its proxies should be clear: every attempt will be met with a disproportionate response. Operation Sindoor was just the beginning if they don't stop.

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