Latest news with #Inter-ServicesIntelligence
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, Turkiye weigh aerospace partnership
Pakistan and Turkiye sought to deepen their defence cooperation amid regional instability as the two sides, in the level talks here on Wednesday, vowed to increase the bilateral trade to $5 billion. Turkish Foreign Minister Fida Hakan and Defence Minister Yasar Guler, who arrived in Islamabad in Tuesday night, held a series of meetings with Pakistani civil and military leaders. Turkiye has emerged a strong supporter of Pakistan in the wake of recent conflict with India. The presence of Turkish foreign and defence ministers in Islamabad highlighted the deepening cooperation and increased high-level exchanges between the two countries. While Foreign Minister Hakan, who was also joined by the Defence Minister Guler, held formal talks with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Foreign Ministry, they met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister's Office, where Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, National Security Adviser and Direcotr General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Asim Malik and other senior officials were also present. The presence of top civil and military leadership of Pakistan highlighted the importance of close ties with Turkey. Welcoming the Turkish delegation, according to an official handout, the prime minister underscored the longstanding fraternal ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, saying that there relations remain deeply rooted in shared history, culture, and mutual respect. He expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Turkiye in diverse fields, including trade, investment, technology, and defence. Recalling his interactions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the year, including the most recent meeting between the two leaders on the margins of the 17th ECO Summit, Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan's firm resolve to transform Pak-Turkiye ties into a strategic partnership in the days to come. Welcoming the convening of the joint commission meeting, co-chaired by Dar and Fidan, the prime minister expressed the hope that the bilateral relations between the two countries would attain further momentum, leading to bolstering of cooperation in multifaceted areas. While reiterating the commitment of the both countries to continue their strong and unwavering support for each other's core interests, the prime minister emphasised the need for closer coordination between the two sides amidst the fast evolving regional and global environment, particularly in the context of Gaza and Iran. He once again expressed his deepest gratitude to the Turkish nation and leadership for their steadfast support to Pakistan during the recent Indian aggression. The prime minister stressed the need for concerted efforts by both sides to enhance the bilateral trade to the mutually agreed target of $5 billion. Highlighting Pakistan's investor-friendly policies, he invited Turkish companies to expand their investment footprint in Pakistan and invited Turkish side to share its expertise to assist in Pakistan's structural reforms, economic growth and development efforts. Meanwhile, at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Dar, Fidan underlined the ongoing efforts to boost the bilateral trade volume to $5 billion. He noted that both countries were evaluating cooperation mechanisms in sectors such as mining, natural gas, oil, and rare earth elements. "In this context, the agreement signed in April between Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and Pakistan's national oil companies represents a highly significant step forward," Fidan said. "This is one of the outcomes of the more institutionalised approach we are working to establish," he added. Dar said that Islamabad and Ankara have agreed to bolster cooperation in a string of areas, including economy, defence industry, energy and infrastructure. Lauding the Turkish defence industry, Dar said that Islamabad wishes to further strengthen its ongoing strategic and defence industries cooperation and promotion of peace and stability in the region. The two sides are "actively" engaged in different activities, including capacity building in counterterrorism, said Dar. Turkish companies will also be participating in the privatisation of distribution companies in the power sector, he added. The two sides, Dar continued, were pursuing the establishment of a special economic zone dedicated to Turkish entrepreneurs in Karachi and Istanbul. "We are actively following up on benefiting from Turkish experience and expertise in shipbreaking and storage and efficient use of agricultural water," Dar said. He said Islamabad and Ankara agreed to revive the long-dormant joint ministerial commission after a hiatus of 11 years, which will be co-chaired by Pakistan's Commerce Minister Jam Kamal and Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler. "All this work will lay a solid foundation for the eighth high-level Strategic Cooperation Council," which will be held next year in Turkiye, he added. In a separate engagement, Turkish Defence Minister Guler met with Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at the Air Headquarters to assess the state of bilateral defence cooperation and discuss emerging regional threats. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), both sides agreed to set up joint working groups to deepen collaboration in aerospace technologies, advanced training, and new domains of warfare. Guler praised the operational readiness of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), particularly during its recent conflict with India, and expressed interest in expanding industry-to-industry partnerships. He also emphasised the importance of joint ventures in disruptive technologies, including unmanned aerial systems, advanced avionics and pilot exchange programs. Both sides pledged to enhance joint air exercises and finalise plans for more intensive training cooperation. The ISPR said that the meeting reflected the "shared commitment of both the brotherly nations to enhance strategic cooperation, solidify defence ties and promote lasting institutional linkages between the Armed Forces of Pakistan and Turkiye".
The Print
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
‘Invited as vlogger, not spy'—Congress-led UDF backs Kerala govt amid row over Jyoti Malhotra's visit
Jyoti Malhotra, known for her YouTube channel Travel with Jo, was arrested in Hisar, Haryana, in May 2025 on charges of espionage under the Official Secrets Act. She allegedly passed on sensitive information to the Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the aftermath of the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack. As the BJP unit in Kerala continues to clamour over the issue, demanding a probe into the state visit by the vlogger, the ruling Left Democratic Front has found support from unexpected quarters. The Opposition in the state, the Congress-led United Democratic Front, has come forward to defend the Pinarayi Vijayan-led state government and Riyas. Thiruvananthapuram: Facing political heat over the visit of influencer Jyoti Malhotra to Kerala in 2024-25, the state's Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas clarified Tuesday that she was part of a routine Kerala tourism campaign handled by external agencies in the absence of any oversight by his department or by the state government. Kerala assembly Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, however, said he does not blame the tourism department or Riyas for her visit, asking whether anyone could have known she was a spy when she came to the state in 2024-25, months before her arrest. The Kerala government would not have invited her if it had known that she was a spy, he added. 'When she came, she was invited as a vlogger, not as a spy. Who could have known then that she was a spy?' Satheesan asked. When ThePrint approached the tourism department, it shared a video from a social media account held by Jyoti Malhotra. The video shows her speaking to the BJP leader and former Union minister, V. Muraleedharan, following the inauguration of the second Vande Bharat train in Kerala in September 2023. She visited Kerala to participate in a promotional video during the launch of the train connecting Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram. Then, in 2024 and January 2025, she revisited Kerala. 'How were we supposed to know in January that an issue would arise in May? The central agencies that should inform states about such matters also did not alert us,' said Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed Riyas. Calling the controversy created by the BJP unnecessary and driven by its desire to gain political mileage in Kerala, Mohammed Riyas said Jyoti Malhotra might have visited many other states, including those ruled by the BJP, at the time. 'The practice of bringing influencers from outside for tourism promotion is not new. Empanelled agencies manage the entire programme. The minister or department does not interfere with who the agencies invite, or what they do,' Riyas told reporters Tuesday. On Monday, ANI published an RTI reply, revealing Jyoti Malhotra as among 41 influencers who visited Kerala earlier this year as part of a tourism promotion initiative. Soon after, BJP leaders at the state and national levels began using the information to attack the Kerala government. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has accused the Left government of blocking 'Bharat Mata' while giving 'red carpet' treatment to 'Pakistani spies', demanding that Mohammed Riyas resign and face an investigation over the issue. State BJP leader and advocate B. Gopalakrishnan has alleged that there must be some mystery behind Jyoti Malhotra's 'Kerala visit'. 'There is a mystery… Many terrorist outfits have found roots in the state, and the administration has always supported them,' Gopalakrishnan told ThePrint. When asked about the video, Gopalakrishnan added that there was no proof that the BJP called upon Jyoti Malhotra to promote the Vande Bharat train in 2023. Riyas said that he initially felt the matter did not deserve a response, but changed his mind as it triggered 'unnecessary discussions and comments by some senior political leaders'. 'For them, it might suit their political agenda, but for society, it creates an unnecessary perception about Kerala's tourism sector,' he said. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Congress alleges Centre & CPIM 'compromise' as RA Chandrasekhar takes charge as Kerala DGP
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
How Pakistan Coordinated Disinformation Campaign Against India During Operation Sindoor
Indian cyber agencies traced the activities of multiple social media accounts, primarily based in Pakistan, with alleged links to the country's military and intelligence apparatus. This report, shared with central agencies, triggered a ban on different social media accounts of Pakistan-based celebrities and some foreign nationals, a source involved in drafting the report told News18. According to the official, a 'significant number" of accounts disseminated identical or closely-worded content in a well-coordinated time frame. Indian cyber labs identified the timing of similar content shared within a span of 30 to 40 minutes, with average engagement of over one million. The official said the posts, marked by a distinctly 'anti-India" tone and uniform messaging, were widely amplified suggesting a centrally directed information warfare effort. Initially, around 2,000 and, later, 2,300 additional social media accounts were suspended followed by further action. In the report, intelligence agencies said that Pakistan's armed forces and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) created and fuelled the 'anti-India" campaign by generating fake content. 'Multiple identified accounts recorded unusually high engagement levels after the ceasefire as well, with cumulative reach extending into the millions, thereby increasing the impact and visibility of the propaganda. The coordinated nature of these activities qualified as information warfare and posed a tangible threat to internal stability and the international image," the official said. Sources said the fake information was shared mainly from 6 pm to 11 pm to fetch high engagement. Later, the concerned ministry was asked to initiate action on these accounts, they said. The analysis further revealed that those in the age group of 25 to 40 were the most active users on social media spreading 'anti-India" fake content. Some accounts were found to be spreading fake and AI-created audio/video messages on different social media platforms. The report also analysed that the most impactful feeds originated from Pakistan, with the initial 96 hours having the highest engagement.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Khalistani terrorist Happy Passia, wanted in 14 grenade attacks across Punjab, likely to be extradited from US
CHANDIGARH: Happy Passia, an alleged mastermind of 14 grenade attacks across Punjab and a wanted notorious gangster-turned-Khalistani terrorist is likely to be extradited from the United States to India. Highly placed sources said that the US authorities have confirmed to the Indian security agencies that the extradition of Happy Passia, whose real name is Harpreet Singh, who is linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and also has links with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan has been approved. However, there is no official confirmation in this regard. In January this year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) put a reward of Rs 5 lakh on Passia in a case of the hand grenade attack in September last year on a house in Sector 10 of Chandigarh by two youths. The attack targeted a retired Superintendent of Police, Jaskirat Singh Chahal, who served as the Station House Officer (SHO) in Nakodar in 1986, during which four sikh protesters were killed in police firing. In 2021, Passia illegally entered the US through the Mexico border with the help of a human trafficking network and continued to coordinate terror activities from there.
NDTV
03-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
West Asia To India Via Nepal: Pakistani ISI's Changing Spy Tactics
New Delhi: A Pakistani espionage network operating across West Asia, Nepal, and India has been exposed following the arrest of a Nepali national by Indian agencies earlier this year. The network, run by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), used non-traditional routes and operatives to gather sensitive military intelligence from within India. The accused, Ansarul Miya Ansari, a Nepali citizen originally from Rautahat district, was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on the night of February 14. His arrest marked a critical breakthrough in what security agencies describe as a non-conventional intelligence operation orchestrated by ISI across multiple regions. The Delhi Trap A trap was laid near Vishwas Nagar in East Delhi, around 10 PM. Ansari was intercepted while attempting to deliver a package. At the time of his arrest, authorities recovered a laptop and printer, several confidential Army documents, a copy of the Army training brochure titled "Fighting in Built-Up Areas - 1982", and deployment manuals and materials marked 'SECRET' and 'CONFIDENTIAL'. One highly sensitive item, a compact disc (CD), believed to contain classified military data, was found to have been destroyed and flushed down the toilet just before the arrest. Police suspect Ansari deliberately destroyed the CD to prevent arrest. A Long-Term Asset Initial interrogation suggests Ansari had been working for ISI since 2008. According to his confession, he was in regular contact with a Pakistani handler identified only as "Yasir", who directed his activities via WhatsApp messages and voice calls. Ansari revealed that he regularly entered India through Nepal, often bypassing checkposts using forged or dual-identification documents. Once inside Indian territory, he made contact with intermediaries who provided intelligence either through hard copies or digital media. Supporting Operatives At least two more individuals are believed to be part of this spy chain. "Pintu", described as a Delhi-based courier, allegedly delivered a CD containing sensitive content to Ansari near Delhi's ISBT. Fearing arrest, Ansari claimed to have destroyed this CD before he could be arrested. Akhlaq Azam, a resident of Jharkhand's Ranchi, is also under investigation for suspected support activities, including providing cover and logistical assistance to Ansari during his visits to India. Azam has been interrogated by intelligence units, and his mobile phone was seized for forensics. Call logs and WhatsApp data showed frequent communication with Pakistani numbers and references to unnamed foreign handlers. Evidence Trail and Military Involvement Forensic experts analysing Ansari's mobile phone have recovered WhatsApp chats with Pakistan-based numbers, call records spanning West Asia, Nepal, and northern India, and military deployment patterns and strategic mapping data. The material was forwarded to the Directorate General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) for assessment. While authorities remain tight-lipped about the exact nature of the intelligence leak, sources say some documents related to troop movements and urban warfare strategy have been leaked. Pakistan's Tactics According to intelligence sources, there has been a shift in ISI's spy strategy. Pakistan, which traditionally operated by carrying out espionage operations through cross-border infiltrators, is now recruiting foreign nationals, especially from Nepal and West Asian countries, who can move freely across borders with low visibility. Ansari's arrest is not an isolated event. Over the past few weeks, intelligence agencies have detained at least 15 individuals across India suspected of passing sensitive military and civil infrastructure data to Pakistani handlers. Arrests and detentions have been reported from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Punjab.
