After facing a series of reverses in its proxy war in Kashmir, Pakistan is using “cyber jihad” to radicalise Kashmiri youth and push them towards terrorism.
The Daily Guardian has learnt that Indian intelligence agencies and Counter Terror and Counter Radicalisation (CTCR) Department have sent a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The report describes how terrorist organisations are using social media to encourage attacks on the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
The ISI is continuously working against India on two fronts: On one hand attacks are being done on security forces through IED and grenades, and on the other, terror is being spread through social media; about 70 such accounts are being used, the report stated.
An officer associated with the intelligence agency told The Daily Guardian that the ISI is also insisting on “lone wolf attack” with the intention of creating disturbances in India.
The report also sounds an alert on United Front of Jammu and Kashmir and Armed Forces Front Jammu and Kashmir actively carrying out this new cyber terrorism in the Valley. This time terrorists are reaching out to youths not through usual social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Telegram, but not through other chat tools.
Earlier, Facebook was a favourite social media platform to spread hate and radicalise Kashmiri youths.
The ISI strategy is to teach youth, first, how to use the video chat platforms and secondly, to circulate provocative speech of the slain terrorists.
The main chat groups that are active in the Valley are Kashmir Cyber Warriors and Al Sindh Media. Speeches and life stories of Musa and Burhan Wani are being conveyed to the youth. Also, the plight of Rohingyas is shown to them, besides the ideology of ISIS being propagated through these social media platforms.
Supporters and sympathisers of these groups are being told to reduce their Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram usage, always lock mobile phones, and avoid fingerprint, face recognition systems completely.
In order to monitor and guide these social media activities, Pakistan recently established a cyber centre in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Muzaffarabad under the command of an IT official.