Now Reading: Pakistan ISI raises India espionage budget to Rs 1,300 crore post Operation Sindoor
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Pakistan ISI raises India espionage budget to Rs 1,300 crore post Operation Sindoor
Pakistan ISI raises India espionage budget to Rs 1,300 crore post Operation Sindoor
Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has increased its annual espionage budget targeting India to Rs 1,300 crore following Operation Sindoor in 2025, intelligence officials said. The pre-operation budget was Rs 800 to Rs 900 crore. The funds are focused on building a Human Intelligence (HUMINT) network within the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, with high-value targets now offered Rs 15 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, up from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh earlier.
Coordinated operations by Andhra Pradesh police, the NIA and intelligence agencies led to the arrest of 18 people in Visakhapatnam for allegedly sharing Naval Dockyard secrets. Of the 18, 13 are Indian Navy personnel. Officials said Pakistans goal is a long-term sustained intelligence flow, not a single operation. Funds are also earmarked for SIM networks, CCTV surveillance and propaganda. Pakistans defence budget for 2026 is about PKR 3 trillion, and officials say the ISI is expanding narcotics and arms smuggling to fund further espionage.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both outlets carry near-identical wire copy on the ISI budget hike, reporting without editorialising. The Shillong Times and Yes Punjab News both lead with the Rs 1,300 crore figure and the HUMINT network focus on the Navy and IAF, attributing all details to unnamed Intelligence Bureau officials. Neither outlet questions the official account or includes any independent verification. The coverage is uniform straight reporting, presenting one government-sourced narrative without dissent. The only notable difference is that Yes Punjab News places its advertisement notice above the headline. The story leaves open the scope and success of the alleged network, which is described through official claims alone.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): theshillongtimes.com (neutral report), yespunjab.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
