A Chinese shadow falls on Pahalgam terror attack case

The role of Pakistan in the Pahalgam Terror attack in which 26 tourists were shot dead by terrorists is slowly being unveiled by security agencies probing the case. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is now taking over the case, and is expected to unearth more evidence. A shocking Pakistan link investigative agencies have revealed is that Hashim Musa, the identified Pakistani terrorist behind the Pahalgam massacre, is a former para commando of Pakistan Army’s Special Forces. Sources told TOI that Musa, now a hardcore terrorist working with the Pakistan-based banned terrorist outfit Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT), was sent by the LeT masterminds to Kashmir on a specific mission to unleash terror attacks on non-locals as well as security forces.

Besides Pakistan's role in the Pahalgam attack, another angle which has come up is the Chinese connection. Investigative agencies have recovered Chinese devices from the site of attack. Only further investigation can reveal if there was any Chinese support to the attack as the devices may or may not have any direct link to the Chinese government.

Also Read: Hard-to-crack Chinese devices part of terror toolkit

The Chinese angle

Security agencies are verifying a lone movement of a Huawei satellite phone in the region where the attack took place and during the same time on the day of the attack near Pahalgam, ET has reported a few days ago. Huawei is a Chinese company and its products are banned in India. It is suspected that Huawei satellite phones have been smuggled into India from either Pakistan or another foreign country, observed officials on condition of anonymity. The agencies have sought technical intelligence and help from Western agencies to track this satellite phone.

Chinese communication tools, including banned Huawei satellite phones and encrypted messaging apps, are believed to have helped foreign terrorists maintain contact with their handlers across the border and evade detection.

Over the past year, foreign terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir have frequently been found with satellite phones and navigation systems based on BeiDou, a Chinese satellite system owned and operated by the China National Space Administration, according to information accessed by The Economic Times. Official sources have told ET that these devices are being used by terrorists to avoid detection. A senior official said, "Cracking this equipment is difficult but not impossible as it takes several days and involves foreign expertise."

Ultra Set: Pak military's Chinese gear used by terrorists

Last year, encounters with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir led to the seizure of highly encrypted Chinese telecom equipment, known as 'Ultra Set,' which were used by terror groups, PTI had reported. This sophisticated gear, initially meant for the Pakistan army, has found its way into the hands of terrorists, raising serious concerns over undetected infiltrations from across the Line of Control (LoC).

These specialized handsets, customized by Chinese companies for the Pakistan army, combine cell-phone capabilities with unique radio equipment that bypasses traditional mobile technologies like GSM or CDMA.

Officials indicated that the 'Ultra Set' devices operate on radio waves for message transmission and reception, each linked to a control station across the border. The messages are compressed and transmitted via Chinese satellites to a master server in Pakistan.

The Chinese hand behind Pak's terror game?

Since China is a major weapons and technology supplier of Pakistan, Chinese-made gear is often found within terrorists in J&K.

Officials had told PTI last year that China was actively enhancing Pakistan's defense capabilities along the LoC. This support included the construction of steelhead bunkers, the provision of unmanned aerial vehicles, and the installation of encrypted communication towers, alongside laying underground fiber cables.

In 2023, Rakh Barutia village in the Samba district of J&K was the site of a Pakistani drone drop of a packet containing arms and ammunition, as per media reports. The recovered items included three China-made pistols, six magazines, 48 bullets, and four Chinese hand grenades.

Additionally, Chinese radar systems, such as those of the "JY" and "HGR" series, have been deployed to improve target detection along the LoC. Advanced weaponry like the SH-15 truck-mounted howitzer has also been observed in the region. These developments are seen as part of China’s strategic interests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), particularly in connection with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

(With agency inputs)