ISI Shifts Khalistan Tactics: Smuggling, Sabotage, and 'Soft Power' Amid Crackdown

Indian counter-terror agencies report that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is actively pushing pro-Khalistan groups to abandon traditional militant tactics and adopt new, covert methods amid relentless crackdowns. These modules are now diversifying their illegal activities, shifting from targeted killings and extortion to financing operations through narcotics and arms smuggling, and even counterfeiting to evade detection. The strategic pivot also involves a worrying shift towards potentially sabotaging critical infrastructure like dedicated freight corridor and power grids in Punjab, according to recent intelligence assessments. This evolving threat landscape highlights a dual strategy by the ISI: fostering a 'gangster-terror nexus' within India by merging criminal networks with extremist cells for shared resources, while simultaneously leveraging a 'soft power' approach overseas. On the international front, pro-Khalistan elements are utilizing diaspora groups, media platforms, and even foreign-backed think tanks like Azerbaijan's Baku Initiative Group to amplify their narrative, often focusing on human rights claims. However, this comes as India's diplomatic efforts are yielding results, with Canada, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, enacting a new Combating Hate Act to curb extremist activities on its soil, and its intelligence agency (CSIS) directly blaming Khalistani extremists for the 1985 Air India bombing. Despite significant successes by Indian agencies, including the busting of eight modules and 117 arrests in Punjab this year, the challenge remains substantial, particularly concerning overseas handlers recruiting radicalized youth. The constant need for vigilance against these ever-changing tactics means security forces must stay ahead of the curve, anticipating new forms of subversion as the ISI seeks to 'keep the pot boiling' without resorting to easily detectable large-scale attacks.