New Delhi, August 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
An intelligence assessment on emerging internal security threats has flagged an expanding social media operation allegedly being run by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to recruit Indians, gather sensitive information, promote favourable narratives and target individuals through honey-trapping, officials said.
According to the assessment, social media influencers and people seeking greater visibility through reels and online content have emerged as key targets. Officials said Pakistan-based groups, including Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, have been scouting such individuals and attempting to reach them through recruits.
An Intelligence Bureau official said some targets are allegedly lured with offers of increased engagement, likes and money, with the objective of using their platforms to promote an agenda favourable to Pakistan.
Officials said Indian agencies have detected and dismantled several such influencer-related modules, but the focus has increasingly shifted towards alleged honey-trapping operations.
The intelligence assessment identifies a multi-pronged approach. One component involves recruiting social media influencers to shape narratives favourable to Pakistan. Another allegedly targets government and armed forces personnel who have access to sensitive information. A third involves spreading fabricated narratives about India and conducting disinformation campaigns.
Officials described the scale of the activity as a major challenge for security agencies, saying the problem extends beyond isolated groups of operatives. According to one official, the ISI has developed a network operating around the clock to identify and cultivate potential recruits.
Officials said recruitment and surveillance modules have allegedly been established both in Pakistan and India, with units reported in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh monitoring social media activity.
The assessment also highlights alleged honey-trapping of senior officials. In cases involving armed forces personnel, ISI operatives are said to study potential targets extensively to identify personal vulnerabilities. Conversations may continue for months before an attempt is made to obtain sensitive information.
The investigation involving Indian Air Force Wing Commander M.S. Sabharwal has been cited as an example. According to the probe, Sabharwal allegedly used a personal device to record drone trial firings inside an exercise area. One communication he allegedly had with an ISI operative concerned the interval between a drone’s launch and its arrival at a target.
Officials said the ISI’s social media activities have intensified following Operation Sindoor, which they said embarrassed Pakistan and exposed what Indian authorities viewed as Islamabad’s nuclear bluff.
The intelligence assessment suggests that social media has consequently become a major instrument in Pakistan’s efforts to target Indian institutions and personnel, creating an increasingly complex challenge for Indian security agencies.
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