New Delhi: Pakistan’s snooping agency ISI is spying on Indian security forces using malwares through mobile gaming and music applications such as Top Gun, mpjunkie, vdjunk and talking frog, the government said on Tuesday.
Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary also said Pakistan’s spy agency was making efforts to trap ex-servicemen in the garb of providing job opportunities and financial aid for spying.
“There are reports that Pakistan intelligence agencies are spying on Indian security forces by sending malwares in mobile apps such as Top Gun (game app), mpjunkie (music app), vdjunkey (video app), talking frog (entertainment app),” the minister said.
He said during the period 2013-16, seven ex-servicemen were arrested/detected for espionage activities for the ISI. “The Indian security forces have been sensitised about Pakistan ISI using dubious applications on smartphones,” he said.
“Besides, the government has circulated Computer Security Policy and Guidelines to all the ministries/departments on taking steps to prevent, detect and mitigate cyber attacks which includes sanitisation of staff and officers, installations of CCTV and biometric for electronic surveillance with well defined crisis management plan for countering cyber attacks and cyber terrorism for implementation,” Chaudhary said.
Meanwhile, stating that India and Pakistan must work together to ensure peace and prosperity for posterity, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on Tuesday said the two countries still have a “long way to go” in normalising relationship but they cannot give up.
Basit also underlined that opportunities between India and Pakistan are abound and the two countries need to embark on a process that is both sustainable and mutually beneficial, he said addressing the Sixth Meeting of Pakistan-India Joint Business Forum.
“Pakistan is committed to normalising relations with India in line with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's vision of a peaceful neighbourhood. We have a long way to go but we cannot give up. We must work together to ensure peace and prosperity for posterity,” he said.
The Pakistan High Commissioner also emphasised on having a level-playing field to help creating interdependencies, saying this was also necessary in the context of promoting regional connectivity and integration.
Appreciating the Forum’s work towards augmenting bilateral economic and trade relations, he said its work and recommendations would come in handy whenever the comprehensive dialogue between the two countries commences.
