What New Strategies is the ISI Implementing to Undermine India’s Economy?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The ISI is leveraging international networks to undermine India’s economy.
- Khalistani groups in Canada play a key role in financing these operations.
- Targeted attacks on marketplaces and railways are part of a broader strategy.
- The ISI is involved in smuggling goods under false pretenses.
- India must remain vigilant and proactive in its countermeasures.
New Delhi, Sep 3 (NationPress) The Indian armed forces have intensified efforts against the ISI and its affiliates, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad. As infiltrations become increasingly challenging, the ISI has launched various international operations in the Gulf countries and Canada aimed at disrupting India’s economy.
In Canada, the ISI has leveraged Khalistani elements to further its agenda. While these groups engage in violent terrorism, their major role centers on managing finances intended for India.
Intelligence reports suggest these elements are directed to target significant establishments and commercial centers, specifically large markets, malls, and shopping complexes.
The ISI has tasked these operatives with mobilizing their networks in India and funneling funds to support their mission. They have been instructed to pinpoint major marketplaces and set them ablaze, which not only instills terror but also results in substantial financial damage.
Specifically, the targets include major markets in Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru. The ISI aims to stage these incidents as accidental fires, evading detection and international scrutiny.
Beyond market sabotage, the ISI also seeks to disrupt railway operations in India. Previous attempts have shown some success, with plans to incite fires on trains or cause derailments—deceptively presented as accidents rather than terrorist acts. Such disruptions not only instill fear but also significantly hinder railway operations, leading to economic loss.
Moreover, investigations reveal that the ISI is illicitly importing rock salt, spices, and dried fruits into India via Dubai, using fraudulent documentation to bypass trade restrictions while generating black money through under-invoicing.
Goods from Pakistan are repackaged in Dubai, enabling them to slip into India undetected.
To execute this scheme, the ISI has recruited traders acting as fronts and established UAE-based companies to channel Pakistani products into India disguised as originating from the UAE.
This covert operation was exposed when the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a consignment of dry dates valued at ₹9 crore, tracing its origins back to Khairpur district in Pakistan’s Sindh province. The ISI has effectively created an underground economy.
Once these goods infiltrate India, traders are attracted by their lower prices and higher profit margins. Since the inception of this shadow network, the ISI has reportedly amassed nearly ₹500 crore. Authorities are now delving deeper into the mechanics of this operation.
The ISI's goal is to circumvent bans, employ false documents, and smuggle in its merchandise through unauthorized channels, reaping significant profits to fund anti-India activities.