Stories
Pakistan ISI Targeted Indian Youth in Operation Groundwire
- •Intelligence reports reveal an alleged digital influence campaign by Pakistan ISI aimed at India's online discourse.
- •The operation, codenamed Ground Wire, reportedly targets unemployed Indian youth with content creation skills.
- •Recruits are allegedly offered payments to produce polished social media content amplifying politically sensitive narratives and domestic controversies.
Key Questions Answered
Operation Groundwire is an alleged digital influence campaign by Pakistan's ISI that recruits unemployed young Indians and journalism graduates with vlogging experience. The operation offers monthly payments or cryptocurrency incentives to produce and distribute polished social media content and public-opinion interviews centered on sensitive domestic controversies.
The operation allegedly utilizes a fraudulent news platform called Bharat Bytes News (BBN) to publish and distribute anti-government and anti-India narratives. BBN operates through its official website as well as accounts across major social media channels including X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Recruitment reportedly begins through Instagram advertisements offering career and journalism opportunities, with interested candidates subsequently contacted via WhatsApp using fake credentials or through peer referrals. Selected participants aged 22 to 26 are allegedly offered monthly payments ranging between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000, or cryptocurrency funds, to create targeted media content.
