New Delhi, June 10 (IANS) With Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on the boil owing to protests and a brutal genocide by the security forces, Indian intelligence agencies have warned of a possible spillover and attempts to create a diversion.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that although security forces in Pakistan are busy dealing with the protests, there would be infiltration attempts through the Line of Control (LoC). To facilitate the same, the ISI would look to carry out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and also in other parts of the country.

The Indian security forces remain on a state of very high alert and are taking all measures to avert a spillover into Jammu and Kashmir. The official said that with chaos erupting in PoK, the ISI has instructed all terror launchpads to be ready to launch terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials say that the ISI would look to capitalise on the situation. For Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has been facing a backlash on the global stage for the atrocities being committed in PoK, an attack in India would help in diverting attention, officials also say.

Intelligence interests suggest that online activity has increased, and the ISI-backed elements are trying to activate modules within India to carry out attacks. There is a sense of desperation that has set in. Moreover, activating modules is no easy task, considering that a number of them have been busted by the Indian agencies in recent months.

Another official noted that while the modules may have been busted, the ISI managed to gather ample information about sensitive locations in India. Through its solar-powered CCTV module, it had picked up information about sensitive locations such as military installations, crowded railway stations and bus stands. The Pakistani spy agency would look to recruit youth and use them to carry out attacks on these locations, the official noted.

Indian agencies have also alerted the security officials to remain on guard for possible activity on social media. There would be disinformation campaigns against India. Attempts would also be made to blame India for the ongoing situation in PoK, officials have warned.

During and post Operation Sindoor, the ISI had managed to create thousands of accounts that were aimed at running a disinformation campaign. An official warned that these accounts could get more active now, and false information would be posted about India’s involvement in the PoK mess. These accounts would blame the Indian government, Intelligence agencies and also the security forces for trying to incite violence in PoK, the official also said.

While attempts would be made to shift the blame, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) criticised Pakistan over what it described as brutality against the people of PoK. The MEA also urged the international community to hold Islamabad accountable for human rights abuses.

“We continue to see, in this context, a pattern of fake news and videos emanating from Pakistan. It is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to cover up its own failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses,” the MEA spokesperson also said.

An official said that there is desperation that has set in, and the Pakistan establishment desperately wants a diversion. While PoK remains the main issue for Pakistan currently, things are not hunky-dory in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well, the official noted. The Pakistanis are facing allegations of brutal human rights abuse in all three regions. With the international community breathing down its neck, it would look to carry out a quick strike in India so that the attention is diverted.

–IANS

vn/vd