Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is orchestrating a calculated escalation of violence in Punjab, recruiting local youth — some of them drug addicts — for as little as ₹20,000 per attack, according to intelligence officials. A wave of incidents since February 2025 has alarmed central and state agencies, who say a distinct operational pattern is now clearly visible.

The Recruitment Network

At the centre of the alleged network is Shezad Bhatti, a Pakistan-based gangster who, according to officials, has been coordinating with local criminal networks to recruit ground-level operatives in Punjab. While attacks are being claimed by the Khalistan Liberation Army (KLA), investigators say Bhatti is the operational link between the ISI and local gangsters.

Preliminary investigations suggest that not all the youth involved are radicalised. According to an official, a significant number are being paid ₹20,000 per attack, with handlers deliberately targeting financially vulnerable individuals. "Some are drug addicts, and they are ready to carry out attacks for a sum of ₹20,000," the official stated. This transactional model marks a departure from ideologically driven recruitment and makes detection significantly harder for law enforcement.

Modules Busted, Weapons Recovered

The Punjab Police and central agencies have been working to dismantle these networks. On 9 April and 16 April 2025, police busted two Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) modules operating out of Amritsar and Gurdaspur. Recoveries included grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and bomb-making material.

An Intelligence Bureau (IB) official confirmed that the threat of a Khalistan revival cannot be dismissed, noting that while agencies have largely kept it under check, the nature of the threat is evolving. "It is not just low-intensity blasts that have been taking place in Punjab," the official said.

Recent Incidents and the Emerging Pattern

The past weeks have seen a sharp spike in incidents. On 5 May 2025, two IED explosions took place within hours of each other — one near the BSF headquarters in Jalandhar and another near the Khalsa Military Camp in Amritsar, both near sensitive installations. On 27 April, an attempt to trigger an IED blast on a railway track in Patiala was foiled by security forces.

Agencies also point to a pattern of targeted killings. Last year, sarpanches in Amritsar and Tarn Taran were killed in attacks that perpetrators claimed were personal disputes. Officials, however, say the larger aim is to create fear and panic across the state.

BJP Leaders and Religious Sites Targeted

According to officials, Khalistan-backed elements have also been targeting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders — a move seen as a direct message to the Narendra Modi government. On 7 April 2024, a grenade was hurled at the residence of BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in what officials describe as a deliberate escalation; Kalia escaped unhurt. On 1 April 2025, a low-intensity blast was reported outside the Punjab BJP headquarters in Chandigarh, with no casualties but clear intent to intimidate.

Attacks on religious sites have added a communal dimension to the threat. In March 2024, two motorcycle-borne assailants hurled a hand grenade at the Thakurdwara Sanatan Mandir in Amritsar. There were no casualties, but the blast damaged walls and shattered windows. An official said the targeting of a Hindu religious site points directly to an ISI strategy to drive a wedge between Sikh and Hindu communities and incite communal tensions — a pattern, the official noted, that was also witnessed at the peak of the original Khalistan movement.

Why Punjab, Why Now

Officials believe the ISI's renewed Punjab focus is directly linked to a slowdown in its operations in Jammu and Kashmir. "With operations slowing down in Jammu and Kashmir, it desperately needs another front to play. This is why the ISI has been making such a major push in Punjab," an official said. Intelligence agencies have warned that Khalistani elements will continue to escalate, and the challenge in the coming days is expected to be immense.