New Delhi, March 23 (NationPress) Intelligence agencies are closely monitoring certain individuals in Jammu and Kashmir who are trying to establish human rights organizations aimed at disseminating a misleading narrative against the Indian government. Numerous journalists suspected of being funded by the ISI are also under scrutiny. According to an official, these individuals are directed to produce negative articles about the Indian security forces.

These organizations are being created to generate false data intended to portray the Indian armed forces as aggressors in Jammu and Kashmir. It is noteworthy that violence has significantly decreased in the region, with several months passing without a single reported incident.

As per an Intelligence Bureau official, these rights groups aim to circulate fabricated statistics and promote a narrative against India on global platforms.

The agencies have warned that these groups are likely to launch publications that will further propagate a distorted view of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Recently, there has been a surge in online conferences featuring international participants, with some local Kashmiris attending to voice their criticisms of the Indian establishment. They attempt to convince global audiences that the abrogation of Article 370 has suppressed Kashmiri voices, while falsely alleging rampant human rights violations in the Union Territory.

Another official remarked that this campaign represents a significant shift from the previous approach of street violence that the ISI employed in Jammu and Kashmir. It is well-documented that stone-pelting, which was a regular occurrence following Friday prayers, has virtually ceased.

The establishment has successfully persuaded the youth in Kashmir that tourism, rather than terrorism, is the path forward. This strategy has proven effective, with tourism now serving as a crucial economic driver, contributing around 7% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), translating to an estimated value of Rs 18,550 crore. In 2024, a record 2.35 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir, supporting 5 lakh jobs in the region.

The ISI and the Pakistan Army orchestrated the Pahalgam attack specifically to undermine the tourism sector and provoke India into a military confrontation. Despite a temporary setback, officials state that the tourism industry has rebounded.

Since 2016, there has been a dramatic decline in terrorist incidents. While the number of terror-related activities has diminished, the ISI is particularly concerned about the significant drop in local recruitment into terror organizations. In 2019, 143 locals joined terror groups, whereas only 7 did so in 2024.

Another official noted that hardcore terrorism in the Union Territory has lost its appeal. Consequently, the ISI has decided to invest heavily in soft terror, focusing on creating a disinformation narrative.

Officials indicate that these so-called human rights groups will attempt to manipulate data while also utilizing deep fake videos and artificially generated content extensively. This could involve fabricated videos depicting alleged atrocities. Images created for this purpose will also be disseminated by these factions, as per the official.

The ISI has pinpointed several individuals for this initiative, many of whom have previously been linked to separatist groups. Some have even shown support for organizations like The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba.

These individuals have been tasked with identifying locals throughout Jammu and Kashmir, who will then form smaller groups to engage with the community and spread a false narrative. The overarching goal is to bring the Jammu and Kashmir issue to international attention and portray Indian agencies and the government in a negative light, officials report.