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Intelligence agencies in India have raised alarms over a new disinformation campaign targeting Kashmir, where individuals allegedly backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are forming human rights organizations to spread false narratives about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to officials from India’s Intelligence Bureau, these groups aim to fabricate statistics and narratives that portray Indian security forces as aggressors in the region. The strategy represents a significant shift from previous ISI tactics that relied primarily on violent street demonstrations and armed insurgency.
“These rights groups are being formed so that they can put up false statistics to try and show the Indian armed forces as an aggressor in Jammu and Kashmir,” an intelligence official stated. The campaign comes at a time when violence in the Union Territory has dropped dramatically, with some months recording zero incidents.
Officials have identified several journalists allegedly on ISI payrolls who are being directed to write negative articles about Indian security forces. The intelligence community is closely monitoring these developments, which include plans to launch magazines dedicated to disseminating misinformation about the region.
Another concerning trend is the sudden increase in online international conferences where local Kashmiris participate to speak critically about the Indian government. These platforms are being used to claim that the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which revoked Kashmir’s special status, has led to widespread suppression and human rights violations.
“It is a well-known fact that stone pelting, which was a norm post Friday prayers every week, has stopped today,” noted one official, highlighting the stark contrast between current conditions and previous years of unrest.
This shift in strategy comes as Kashmir has seen remarkable growth in tourism, which now contributes approximately 7 percent to the region’s Gross State Domestic Product, valued at an estimated Rs 18,550 crore. In 2024 alone, a record 2.35 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir, supporting around 500,000 livelihoods.
The success of Kashmir’s tourism sector appears to have frustrated Pakistan’s security establishment, which allegedly orchestrated the Pahalgam attack specifically to damage this economic revival and potentially provoke India into a broader conflict. Despite this setback, the tourism industry has shown resilience and recovered.
Terror-related incidents have declined significantly since 2016. Perhaps most telling is the dramatic drop in local recruitment into terrorist organizations—from 143 individuals in 2019 to just 7 in 2024.
“Hardcore terrorism in the Union Territory has hardly any takers today. Hence the ISI has decided to invest heavily on soft terror and this involves a disinformation narrative,” explained an official familiar with the matter.
Intelligence agencies warn that these groups will likely employ sophisticated technologies, including deep fake videos and AI-generated content, to fabricate evidence of alleged atrocities. The ISI has reportedly identified individuals previously linked to separatist movements and groups like The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, to spearhead these efforts.
These operatives have been tasked with establishing networks across Jammu and Kashmir, forming small groups to disseminate false narratives at the grassroots level. The ultimate objective, according to officials, is to internationalize the Kashmir issue and damage India’s reputation on global platforms.
The government’s success in shifting the narrative from “terrorism to tourism” has created a new challenge for Pakistan’s proxy warfare strategy, forcing it to adapt its approach to undermining Indian sovereignty in the region through more sophisticated information operations.
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20 Comments
It’s disturbing to see the ISI trying to leverage human rights organizations as a vehicle for their propaganda. This highlights the need for robust fact-checking and media literacy efforts to combat the spread of false information.
Yes, it’s crucial that the public is made aware of these manipulative tactics so they can be on the lookout for such disinformation campaigns.
The drop in violence in Kashmir is certainly a positive sign, but it seems the ISI is now shifting tactics to sow discord through false narratives. Monitoring these new ‘rights groups’ closely will be key to maintaining stability in the region.
Absolutely, the Indian intelligence community must continue to proactively identify and shut down these disinformation networks.
The ISI’s attempts to fabricate narratives and portray the Indian security forces as aggressors in Kashmir are deeply concerning. It’s crucial that the Indian government continues to proactively identify and shut down these ISI-backed disinformation networks.
Absolutely. Transparency and fact-based reporting will be essential to combating the spread of false information and maintaining public trust in the government’s handling of the situation in Kashmir.
This news highlights the ongoing information warfare being waged over the Kashmir issue. The ISI’s shift to more covert tactics, like leveraging ‘human rights groups,’ is a concerning development that requires vigilant monitoring and decisive action by the Indian government.
Agreed. Maintaining tight coordination between the intelligence community and media outlets will be crucial to effectively exposing and countering these disinformation campaigns.
The shift from violent street protests to covert disinformation tactics by the ISI is concerning. It demonstrates their ability to adapt and find new ways to destabilize the situation in Kashmir. Rigorous monitoring and swift counteraction will be critical.
Absolutely. The Indian government must continue to expose these deceptive practices and ensure the public has access to accurate, unbiased information about the ground realities in Kashmir.
While the drop in violence in Kashmir is encouraging, this news highlights the ongoing efforts by Pakistan’s intelligence agency to undermine India’s position through more subtle means. Vigilance and decisive action will be essential to thwarting these disinformation campaigns.
Agreed. The Indian government must remain proactive in identifying and countering these ISI-backed attempts to manipulate public perception about the situation in Kashmir.
The strategy of forming ‘rights groups’ to fabricate narratives is particularly insidious. India’s intelligence agencies will have to stay several steps ahead to effectively counter these ISI-backed efforts to undermine the situation in Kashmir.
Absolutely. Maintaining tight coordination between the intelligence community and media outlets will be vital to exposing these deceptive practices.
This is a concerning development. Using supposed ‘human rights groups’ to spread disinformation is a devious tactic. It’s crucial that the Indian government stays vigilant and exposes these ISI-backed efforts to misrepresent the situation in Kashmir.
I agree, transparency and factual reporting are essential to counter these kinds of coordinated propaganda campaigns.
This news is a stark reminder of the ongoing information warfare being waged over the Kashmir issue. The Indian government must remain vigilant and continue to call out these ISI-funded disinformation campaigns targeting its security forces.
Agreed. Transparency and fact-based reporting are essential to combat the spread of false narratives and maintain public trust.
The formation of ‘human rights groups’ as a front for ISI-funded disinformation is a concerning development. It demonstrates the agency’s willingness to exploit sensitive issues for political gain. Robust fact-checking and transparency will be crucial to neutralizing these tactics.
Absolutely. The Indian government must continue to call out these deceptive practices and ensure the public has access to accurate, reliable information about the ground realities in Kashmir.