New Delhi, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI is allegedly seeking to expand its activities in India through a digital campaign targeting Indian content creators, according to intelligence inputs cited by officials.
The development comes amid intensified counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. In the latest operation, two terrorists were killed in a joint intelligence-based operation in Udhampur’s Brattal area during the intervening night of September 16 and 17, according to the Army’s White Knight Corps. Search and surveillance operations remain underway.
According to an Intelligence Bureau official cited in the report, Pakistan has been attempting to revive terrorist activity in the Valley and facilitate infiltration, but the success rate has remained low. The official said this has prompted the ISI to pursue what is described as a large-scale digital infiltration campaign.
Under the alleged strategy, unemployed Indian youths with digital content creation skills are being approached with offers of monthly payments ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000, the official said.
The recruits are allegedly asked to produce and circulate content on issues considered sensitive in India, with the aim of reaching audiences within the country as well as abroad.
Officials said the model is designed to avoid easy detection. The recruits are reportedly instructed to operate individually rather than as an organised group, while the content is expected to appear professional and present arguments supporting the narrative being promoted.
“The content needs to look professional, and strong points must be added to back their case. Most of the time such content could look like a normal discourse against the Indian system. However, as the reach grows, the content would get more aggressive,” an official said.
According to the officials, the alleged campaign differs from earlier forms of extremist propaganda, with recruits less likely to be asked to openly advocate violence or the establishment of Sharia law. Such material can also attract quicker action from social media platforms, they said.
“The intention is to pick issues that have created a controversy in the country and then keep amplifying the same,” another official said.
Officials said subjects relating to national security and political discourse could form part of the content, while controversies that have faded from public attention could also be revived online to generate renewed discussion.
The recruitment process is reportedly being expanded gradually. Officials said an initial group of recruits was allegedly tasked with identifying and approaching additional content creators and explaining the nature of the work to them.
Those with strong digital production skills and experience in vlogging are said to be among the primary targets. According to the report, initial recruitment was carried out through social media advertisements inviting applications online.
Officials said some unemployed applicants were attracted by the financial incentives and may not have initially viewed the nature of the content as suspicious.
However, investigators are concerned about the potential impact of the volume of such material if the network expands.
According to officials, the broader objective of the alleged campaign is to repeatedly amplify selected controversies and create an impression online that the country is facing persistent problems.
They described the effort as a long-term attempt to influence public discourse through Indian recruits rather than relying solely on overt extremist propaganda.
The allegations come as security forces continue counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. In Udhampur, the Army said the latest operation involved the White Knight Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF and resulted in two terrorists being killed despite difficult terrain, poor visibility and adverse weather.
FOLLOW NOW
