India’s sheer dominance, both in attacking Islamic terror camps deep inside Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and defending Indians from Pakistani missile and drone attacks has rattled the ISI. Pakistan’s intelligence agency, in its desperation to come up with robust S-400-like air defence systems, attempted to pull off a defence information smuggling mission in Russia.
Moscow, however, conducted a counter-espionage operation and foiled ISI’s plan.
Russian authorities recently arrested a local national in St. Petersburg while he was trying to smuggle out documents used for developing military helicopter technology and air defence systems, and other information about Mi8AMTShV and MI8 AMTShV (VA) military transport helicopters, Economic Timesreported.
ISI’s spy network busted a few months after Operation Sindoor, was working on smuggling technology associated with advanced air defence systems produced by Russia, particularly, the S-400 missile defence systems which helped India respond effectively to Pakistan’s missile and drone attacks. Reports say that four to five additional S400 missile defence systems.
The ISI was also attempting to smuggle information about the Mi8AMTShV and Mi8AMTShV (VA). The Mi8AMTShV is an upgraded Russian military transport and assault helicopter, while MI8 AMTShV (VA) is an arctic version designed for polar operations.
Interestingly, the relations between Russia and Pakistan have witnessed a downslide amidst Islamabad’s growing tilt towards the US. On 6th November, the Russian Embassy in Pakistan slammed the latter’s English daily ‘The Frontier Post’ for peddling US propaganda and amplifying Russophobia.