Full Breakdown
India Arrests Over 200 Alleged ISI-Backed Operatives in Multi-State Sweep
8/18/2026, 1:16:29 AM
Core Operation Details
A three-day, multi-state police operation began on August 12 targeting a network described by Indian officials as the “Shahzad Bhatti Network,” which they say is backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). According to the operation’s spokesperson, more than 200 individuals were detained across several Indian states. Security forces reported recovering pistols, live cartridges, grenades marked with Pakistan Ordnance Factory insignia, and crude explosive devices.
Background & Context
India and Pakistan have long exchanged accusations of sheltering each other’s militants. Both governments routinely deny the other’s claims, and the rivalry intensifies in the run-up to national holidays such as India’s Independence Day. The latest arrests occur amid heightened diplomatic tension, with each side asserting that the other harbors hostile elements.
Data & Statistics
Official Statements & Responses
X. Shah, speaking on the social-media platform X, asserted that the “Modi government destroyed the ISI-backed terror Group Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of Independence Day and thwarted its plans for subversive attacks by arresting more than 200 operatives.” The statement emphasizes the operation’s timing and its purported impact on planned attacks.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has not issued a response to the allegations, leaving the diplomatic exchange unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Modi government destroyed the ISI-backed terror Group Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of Independence Day and thwarted its plans for subversive attacks by arresting more than 200 operatives,” — X. Shah
