ISI planning multi-pronged offensive on India’s defence, financial systems: Intel
New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) Pakistan’s ISI is planning to launch a series of cyber attacks on crucial Indian infrastructure, the Intelligence Bureau has learnt. Officials say that the intention is to disable crucial infrastructure relating to defence and financial institutions. ISI officials have, in the last week, held a series of meetings aimed at planning these attacks, an official said.
The ISI is engaging its Pakistan Cyber Force to carry out these attacks. An Intelligence Bureau official said that there has been a surge in activity with the ISI activating various groups to carry out the attacks.
An assessment by Indian security agencies at the end of 2025 stated that the biggest cause for concern in 2026 would be cyberattacks by hackers, mostly from Pakistan. It has been learned that the Pakistani spy agencies are using groups such as the “Cyber Group HOAX1337” and “National Cyber Crew” to strike at Indian assets. These groups have been used in the past as well.
Another official said that these groups backed by the ISI are looking to target India’s defence sector the most. The idea is to cripple the systems while also trying to extract the sensitive data.
The ISI has already deployed its espionage wing to gather sensitive information. Here too, the defence sector remains the biggest target. In addition to this, the ISI has launched a bunch of spies within India to gather sensitive information relating to railway stations. The Ghaziabad police, during its investigation, learnt that these persons had even set up solar-powered Closed-Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) and were providing live feed to their handlers in Pakistan.
Another official explained that the ISI has planned a two-pronged operation to target Indian assets. The Pakistan-based hacker groups that have been deployed would look to target and disrupt India’s defence sector. The other mode of attack would be in the form of a disinformation campaign, the official added. Such campaigns would witness a surge as there are elections in multiple states this month. This would be the ideal time for these elements to engage in a disinformation campaign, officials say.
Further, it has also been learned that the number of hoax calls would go up. There is plenty of chaos in the world owing to the war in the Middle East. This has led to flight disruptions and a surge in prices of oil and other related commodities. The elements have been told to spread false narratives relating to oil and LPG prices, so that the Indian consumer would be in a state of panic. This would lead to panic buying and also an increase in black marketing.
The Indian government has been clarifying and fact-checking false information being spread by the Pakistan-based handles on social media.
Further, the agencies have also warned about hoax messages aimed at targeting the education and aviation sectors. These are critical areas, which can very easily cause panic, and the ISI is looking to target these sectors the most.
However, the top on the agenda of these hackers would remain the defence sector. The ISI and Pakistan want to gather as much information as possible about the Indian defence sector. It has been pumping in a lot of money into these operations. In 2019, an assessment by the Indian agencies found that the ISI had earmarked a whopping Rs 3,000 crore an annum for activities relating to hacking, espionage and honey trapping.
Further, the ISI has also been planting fake news against India in the mainstream newspapers and media outlets in Pakistan. The Pakistan-based social media handles that are on the payrolls of the ISI have been instructed to circulate such information in a big way to build up a narrative against India, an official said.
–IANS
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