Pahalgam Terror Attack Probe: Chinese Apps and Satellite Devices Under NIA Scanner

 In a significant development in the investigation of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, intelligence sources have revealed to CNN-News18 that the assailants were using highly encrypted Chinese messaging applications to coordinate with handlers across the border in Pakistan. These applications, banned in India since the 2020 Galwan clashes, pose major challenges for interception due to their sophisticated encryption protocols.

Further deepening the probe, intelligence agencies have also detected the presence of a Chinese satellite phone operating in the vicinity on the day of the attack. Both findings are now key lines of investigation for the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has taken the lead in unraveling the conspiracy behind the Pahalgam assault.

Sophisticated Communication Techniques

The communication tools employed by terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed increasingly mirror those used by state militaries and criminal cartels. Current methods incorporate:

• End-to-End Encryption (E2EE): Ensuring messages are decipherable only by sender and recipient.

• Quantum-Resistant Algorithms: Encryption designed to withstand even quantum-level computational attacks.

• Steganography: Embedding covert messages within innocuous digital files such as images and videos.

Additionally, terrorists utilize burst transmitters that send information within milliseconds, making detection extremely difficult. Techniques such as frequency hopping — the rapid switching of radio frequencies — are also employed to evade surveillance and interception.

The use of satellite phones linked to non-terrestrial networks like Iridium further enables operatives to bypass local communication infrastructure, complicating tracking efforts.

Historically, terror networks have adapted rapidly to countermeasures: ISIS shifted from Telegram following law enforcement crackdowns; Al-Qaeda famously embedded communications within pornographic websites, a tactic exposed by the FBI; Kashmiri militants have been intercepted using Thuraya satellite phones and encrypted WhatsApp groups.

Diplomatic Tensions: China's Support for Pakistan

Amid heightened regional tensions, China has openly reiterated its support for Pakistan. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, expressing concern over the escalating situation post-Pahalgam attack and urging an "impartial investigation."

The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the discussion in an official statement, highlighting Dar’s briefing on the regional security environment. Dar, in turn, thanked China for its "continued and unwavering support," reaffirming the strength of the two nations' "All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership."

Both China and Pakistan reiterated their joint commitment to upholding regional peace, promoting mutual respect, and opposing unilateralism and hegemonic practices. They also agreed to enhance coordination across diplomatic channels to advance shared goals of regional security, peace, and sustainable development.

As the NIA continues to delve deeper into the technological dimensions of the Pahalgam attack, and as diplomatic dynamics evolve, the investigation is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping India's security posture and regional diplomatic strategies in the coming months.