ISI may target India around Independence Day, security agencies on high alert

Security agencies have heightened vigilance along India’s Pakistan and Bangladesh borders following intelligence inputs warning of possible ISI-backed infiltration or attacks around Independence Day. The BSF has launched Operation Alert, while the government plans nearly 40 intelligence units along West Bengal’s Bangladesh border

New Delhi: The government is leaving no stone unturned to secure India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh amid intelligence inputs warning that elements backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) could attempt a misadventure.

Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, multiple Intelligence inputs have warned that Pakistan could attempt not only a major strike along the border areas but also target locations within the country.

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An Intelligence Bureau official said that the ISI feels that the focus of the security agencies, especially in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, would largely be around the celebrations on August 15. “The ISI is trying to exploit this and will attempt something major either on Independence Day or ahead of it,” the official warned.

The official said that these elements would first try to enforce infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir. Attempts would also be made to push terrorists through the Bangladesh border. Further, the ISI is also aiming to strike in two-tier cities where security is generally lower as compared to the metros and other major cities.

An official said intercepts from across the border clearly indicate that the ISI is under pressure. The Pakistan establishment has been put on the back foot by the turmoil in regions such as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Balochistan. It is looking for a big diversion and carrying out a strike on India’s Independence Day would serve that purpose, the official said.

Currently, security agencies are maintaining a heightened focus on Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Delhi, which have traditionally been among the areas targeted by the Pakistani spy agency. While an attack in any of these places would send a strong message, carrying one out would be difficult for the ISI given the tight security arrangements in place.

Another official warned that to divert the attention of the agencies, the ISI could also sound a false alarm. There are several intercepts that suggest that a big attack is being planned in Delhi or Kashmir. Many such intelligence inputs are generally not actionable in nature. This is a deliberate strategy to divert attention, while in reality, an attack would be planned elsewhere, the official also said.

For the agencies, the task on the borders with both Pakistan and Bangladesh poses the biggest challenge. The border agencies are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to securing these borders as the ISI would look to meddle the most here, officials say.

At the western border with Pakistan, the Border Security Force (BSF) has launched Operation Alert. The exercise that began on August 10 and would go on until August 17 is witnessing the participation of all senior officers of the BSF. This comes in the wake of the BSF getting information about a possible misadventure by the ISI.

“There is also credible information about possible infiltration and smuggling attempts. During this period, a large force would keep a close watch on every activity along the border. Surveillance and patrolling have been increased significantly in these areas,” an official said.

On the other hand, to enhance security along the Bangladesh border, the Centre has decided to set up nearly 40 Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) units across the bordering districts in West Bengal. An official explained that this is one of the biggest expansions of the field structure for the Intelligence Bureau.

This was a much-needed exercise considering how vulnerable this border is. The setting up of the SIB units would establish a permanent operational presence. The official said securing the border requires constant surveillance and continuous intelligence gathering.

Smuggling attempts, infiltration bids and other extremist activities are regularly reported along the border. Given the persistent nature of these attempts, it is crucial to have real-time intelligence to detect and thwart any nefarious activity, the official said.