Inside ISI's pan-India influencer network to spread falsehoods, shape narratives post 'Op Sindoor'
New Delhi, Aug 3
Pakistan has been making a major push to build a massive influencer network in India. The push to build this pan-India network continues despite the Indian agencies busting many such modules in recent months. The decision to ramp up these networks came in the aftermath of 'Operation Sindoor'.
This operation, carried out to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack on India in which 26 people were killed, exposed Pakistan badly as the Indian armed forces took down terror infrastructure both in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).
An Intelligence Bureau official said that Pakistan has realised that it is no match for the Indian armed forces.
To overcome this, it decided to build a massive network comprising influencers in India.
The ISI had used Shehzad Bhatti, a former influencer to build multiple terror modules in India.
The plan was a big success and the ISI realised that influencers have better command over the social media and they would be able to scout for targets with much ease, the official said.
An official said that the ISI's plan is not just to use these influencers to recruit people into joining terror groups. These influencers are also meant to spread falsehood about the Indian government and the armed forces.
Pakistan wants to set up a network of influencers to set the narrative that it wants to in India.
Another official said that these influencers have been told to make a soft push instead of going rabid. The soft push does not get scrutinised by Indian agencies easily.
The idea is to create as much content as possible and then influence the people of the country into believing that everything around them is wrong.
For a common man these videos would appear to be normal as they raise existing issues. However the common man does not realise that these may seem normal, but in reality the idea is to amplify an issue to the highest levels.
This is where the brainwashing of the common man takes place and they are led into believing that everything in the country is wrong.
In the long run, these influencers would hope that the public comes out in the open and protests or indulges in violence against the state, the official pointed out.
Officials say that for the Indian agencies the social media and other video platforms have become the biggest headache. There are millions of people on these platforms and hence it is very difficult to track.
The agencies will have to keep a watch on these ISI-backed channels.
The Intelligence agencies and cyber crime officials will have to follow the pattern in which the content is being generated before they can actually take action, officials also point out.
In the ongoing probe by the Special Task Force (STF) in Bengal, the agencies found that an influencer network was being built up by two persons. Their aim however was not just to influence the people, but to also set up a major espionage network.
The idea of having such a module was to gather information about sensitive locations. They were also seeking information regarding the routes taken by high profile persons such as ministers.
However, this network largely wanted information on the Chief Minister of Bengal Suvendu Adhikari. The STF said the module was more keen on the routes of the CM, especially the unguarded ones.
The idea apparently was to assassinate Adhikari by getting this information, the STF found. Officials say that many such modules have been busted since 'Operation Sindoor'. However the ISI had no plans at stopping at that.
It realises the importance of having influencers in their pocket. These are the persons who can set narratives and also spread falsehoods to incite the people against the Indian state, the official also pointed out.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an outsider looking in, this is fascinating and scary at the same time. The digital warfare angle is something that all nations need to take seriously. India's intelligence agencies clearly have their work cut out for them. I hope they stay one step ahead of these networks.
The part about them wanting to assassinate the Bengal CM is absolutely chilling! 😱 We take our security for granted sometimes. The fact that they were specifically looking at unguarded routes shows how detailed their planning is. Kudos to the STF for busting this module. We need to support our agencies more.
I have mixed feelings about this. While I completely condemn Pakistan's attempts to destabilize India, I also think we need to look at our own house. Why are so many Indians susceptible to this propaganda? If people are unhappy with genuine issues, they get easily influenced. Maybe we should address the root causes of discontent too, rather than just blaming external actors.
This is modern warfare at its finest. Countries are no longer fighting with just bullets and bombs but with narratives and disinformation. The Indian agencies have a Herculean task ahead of them with millions of influencers out there. It's like finding a needle in a haystack, but I'm confident in India's capabilities. Stay safe, India! 💪
The "soft push" strategy is truly sinister. They're not spreading obvious lies but amplifying real issues to create a narrative of hopelessness. I've seen such content on social media and even I've had moments of doubt. It's a constant battle between being critical and being manipulated. We need
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