INDIA'S INVISIBLE WAR: HOW TECHNOLOGY, ESPIONAGE AND APATHY THREATEN NATIONAL SECURITY

India today stands at the forefront of a modern battle—a war not waged with tanks or missiles, but with smartphones, seductive messages, and silent spyware.

- DR. NISHAKANT OJHA

In the evolving domain of hybrid warfare, the lines between external attack and internal compromise have blurred. Cyber intrusions, social engineering, and digital espionage have become the new arsenals of state and non-state actors targeting the Republic.

The threat to national integrity is no longer limited to soldiers crossing borders; it now lurks within mobile applications, false online identities, and pre-installed foreign software. From defense establishments to digital banking systems, India is navigating a labyrinth of silent attacks designed to exploit trust, technology, and institutional vulnerabilities.

THE RISE OF THE INSIDER THREAT: SIM CARDS, HONEY TRAPS AND COVERT NETWORKS

The arrest of cleric Mohammad Kasim from Bharatpur has brought to light a disturbing pattern. He had been in contact with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), allegedly transporting Indian SIM cards across the border. These were used by Pakistani handlers to impersonate senior Indian officials and manipulate defense personnel into disclosing sensitive information.

Kasim had visited Pakistan multiple times, undergoing training in covert communication techniques. He is not an isolated case. Several other individuals from Punjab and Haryana, often from underprivileged backgrounds, were enticed by promises of visa support and financial compensation. These SIM cards served as critical enablers for psychological and digital warfare against India—fuelling everything from misinformation to attempted honey traps. These operations are more than isolated incidents; they represent a calibrated ISI playbook of exploiting digital connectivity and personal weaknesses to undermine India's defense ecosystem.

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