ISI's Global Desk Network: Covert Ops & Infiltration in Russia, Myanmar, Nepal

These desks are a replica of what the ISI had set up in Sri Lanka 14 years back.

The desk was set up to specifically set up modules in South India. Although that plan was busted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the ISI still indulges in covert operations, an official said.

To set up these desks, the ISI has sought the help of Turkey's National Intelligence Organisation (NIO). Turkey had helped set up such a desk in Bangladesh recently. It was referred to as the ISI's Dhaka Desk.

Now, the ISI is in the process of setting up the Moscow Desk. Officials say that this desk is being set up to set up modules in Russia. The aim is to carry out covert operations and hurt the country since it is an Indian ally.

Similar desks are also being planned in Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Work is on to restore the desk in Sri Lanka as the ISI plans on targeting the southern part of India.

Currently, the southern space is dominated by splinter groups of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. These groups have become dominant in the region, but largely operate in the online space.

The desk in Sri Lanka becomes important for the ISI as it sees an opportunity to build its network in south India. The ISI wants to occupy the space that has been left vacant following the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI).

To oversee the setting up of the ISI desks, Brigadier Muhammad Asif Khan and two other senior-ranking Pakistani army officers have been appointed.

Officials say that the function of this desk will not be limited just to setting up modules and carrying out terror attacks. There would be fishing missions where secrets of the particular country would be gathered.

Further, the members of these desks have also been tasked with infiltrating the intelligence agencies of that particular country, the official also noted.

Another official noted that the Dhaka desk has been successful. It needs to be seen how much would change in the operations of the Dhaka desk, now that there is a democratically elected government in place.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) swept the recently held polls, and on Tuesday, Tarique Rahman will be sworn in as Prime Minister. This is the first election that has been held since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, owing to an uprising. The Dhaka desk has managed to set up several modules and has even trained members of the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JuMB). All these terrorists were trained so that they could infiltrate India and strike in the northeastern states and West Bengal. The setting up of this desk and carrying out operations was easy for the ISI, as Muhammad Yunus, the chief of the interim government, was very lenient towards Pakistan.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that both Turkey and Pakistan have set out on this mission so that they can infiltrate deeper into several countries. While setting up modules is one part of the problem, the more dangerous aspect regarding these desks is that the members have been trained to infiltrate intelligence agencies. Hence, it is clear that both these countries are aiming at playing a massive game to gain control over several countries and carry out covert operations, the official also added.

- IANS