Intelligence agencies have flagged an active campaign by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to recruit small-time gangsters in Punjab ahead of the state's February 2027 Assembly elections, with the alleged aim of engineering communal unrest, suppressing voter turnout, and diverting security forces to enable large-scale drug and arms smuggling across the border. The warning, relayed by an Intelligence Bureau (IB) official, underscores growing concern that Punjab — already a sensitive border state — faces one of its most complex security tests in years.

How the Alleged Recruitment Operation Works

According to the IB official, the ISI has been tasked with identifying and co-opting low-level gangsters who are then deployed to monitor ground-level disputes — not necessarily political ones. 'These disputes need not necessarily be political and could include personal conflicts, which could then be exploited to fuel tension,' the official said.

The recruited individuals are reportedly instructed to infiltrate local flashpoints and deliberately escalate them into large-scale confrontations involving violence and bloodshed. Officials noted that such disputes are ordinarily resolvable but are being weaponised to overwhelm local administration and law enforcement during the election period.

Targeted Killings and the Fear Strategy

Beyond inflaming local incidents, the ISI has also reportedly directed its operatives to carry out targeted killings of political leaders in Punjab. Intelligence officials said the broader objective is to create an atmosphere of fear that could suppress voter participation. 'By attempting to create fear during the election period and suppress voter participation, the ISI is also seeking to embarrass the Centre,' officials said.

They added that as a border state with a significantly larger deployment of central security agencies than most other states, Punjab presents a high-value target for destabilisation efforts. A drop in voter turnout amid violence, they argued, would serve as a propaganda victory for Pakistan-backed groups.

Smuggling, Drones, and the Security Diversion

A second layer of the alleged strategy involves using manufactured unrest as cover for stepped-up cross-border smuggling. 'By keeping the security establishment occupied with maintaining law and order, the ISI intends to step up large-scale smuggling of drugs and arms across the border,' an official said.

Counter-terror officials said newer drone infiltration techniques are also being deployed, including the use of loud music along the border to mask drone movement and evade detection — a tactic that reflects an evolving operational playbook.

Khalistan Narrative and Social Media Propaganda

Security experts cited in official briefings said the ISI has increasingly shifted its focus toward Punjab over Kashmir, viewing the state's volatile conditions as fertile ground for reviving Khalistan ideology. The effort reportedly includes a coordinated social media and OTT platform campaign aimed at defaming the Punjab Police and central security agencies.

Officials said the narrative being circulated highlights alleged excesses by security forces while systematically omitting violence carried out by Khalistani militants — including the targeting of minority communities and the killing of large numbers of police personnel during the peak of militancy. 'This points to a deliberate attempt to build a false narrative against the state and its security agencies,' the official said.

Officials specifically cautioned against groups such as Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), warning that Punjab must not be allowed to return to the conditions those organisations once created. They urged the youth of the state not to fall into what they described as ISI attempts to lure and exploit them.

What Security Agencies Are Watching

Counter-terror officials said 2026-27 is expected to be one of the most challenging periods for Punjab's security apparatus, with the ISI anticipated to operate simultaneously on multiple fronts — local disturbances, terror-linked activity, and cross-border infiltration. Intelligence agencies have already intercepted multiple cross-border communications pointing to plans for targeted killings and communal incitement. The coming months, as election campaigning intensifies, are being treated as a high-alert window.