Pahalgam Attack: Did Pakistani terrorists use Chinese satellite phones and apps to evade Indian surveillance?

Indian Army personnel at the site of the Pahalgam terror attack, in Anantnag district.

Shedding light on another alarming aspect of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, the Pakistani terrorists who carried it out are believed to have used Chinese applications and devices to communicate with their handlers in Pakistan, claims a News18 report, quoting intelligence sources. Notably, these apps and devices remain banned in India since the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.

The report further quoted intelligence sources revealing that a Chinese satellite phone was present in the area where the attack took place. The National Investigation Agency, which is probing the attack, is looking into this angle as well.

According to an Economic Times report, the satellite phone used by the terrorists was a Huawei. Since these phones are banned in India, they were reportedly smuggled into India either from Pakistan or any other foreign country.

The report quoted officials saying that they are getting technical intelligence and assistance from Western agencies to track the satellite phone.

How these devices work?

Several Huawei smartphone models come with built-in satellite communication features, according to a Business Today report. Models such as Mate 60 Pro, P60 series, and Nova 11 Ultra are made to connect to China’s Tiantong-1 satellite network.

These phones require China Telecom SIM cards and subscriptions. They are equipped with satellite antennas and specialized chips, enabling them to connect to satellite networks without any external equipment.

The phones have low-bandwidth voice and text services and even work in areas with no cell coverage. The satellite phones use non-terrestrial networks like Iridium to bypass local infrastructure.

According to CNBC, some of these Chinese apps and phones incorporate end-to-end encryption, including advanced encryption that is claimed to be unbreakable even by quantum computers, and steganography (hiding messages within files like images and videos). They also employ burst transmitters, which send data in milliseconds, and frequency hopping, which rapidly switches radio frequencies to avoid detection or jamming.

Why Chinese apps and devices?

The use of Chinese technology by terrorists is not a new phenomenon. Over the past few years, there have been multiple reports of terrorist groups utilizing Chinese-made mobile devices, apps, and accessories to communicate with their handlers and coordinate attacks. This has raised concerns about the potential role of Chinese companies in facilitating terrorism, either inadvertently or otherwise.

Chinese apps, particularly those with encrypted messaging systems, have become a popular choice among terrorists due to their ability to bypass conventional surveillance tools.

It is believed that Huawei’s satellite-enabled phones could potentially bypass Indian cellular and satellite surveillance systems.

Chinese smartphones and devices are widely available and often more affordable than those from other international brands.

Some Chinese smartphone manufacturers offer devices with advanced security features, including strong encryption capabilities. While these features are intended to protect user privacy, they can also be exploited by criminals and terrorists to conceal their communications.

There have been longstanding concerns about potential "backdoors" in Chinese-made technology, which could allow the Chinese government or manufacturers to access user data. While there is no conclusive evidence that these backdoors were used in this case, the possibility cannot be ruled out.

China backs Pakistan

Amid tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack, China has extended support to its all-weather ally Islamabad. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to Pakistan Deputy PM Ishaq Dar on phone and backed an “impartial investigation” into the attack.

“As an ironclad friend and an all-weather strategic cooperative partner, China fully understands Pakistan's legitimate security concerns and supports Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty and security interests,” said Wang, as quoted by Chinese news agency Xinhua.

“China advocates for a swift and fair investigation and believes that conflict does not serve the fundamental interests of either India or Pakistan, nor does it benefit regional peace and stability,” he noted.

The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the conversation in a statement on X, noting that Dar briefed Yi on the regional situation. Dar said China “rejected India’s unilateral and illegal actions, as well as its baseless propaganda against Pakistan.”

On April 23, China "strongly condemned" the brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.

"We strongly condemn the attack. China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun had told a media briefing.

The use of Chinese technology in terrorism has significant strategic implications for India. While the Indian government has long accused Pakistan of supporting and harbouring terror groups, the involvement of Chinese technology complicates the issue further. The growing nexus between Pakistani-backed terror outfits and Chinese-made devices could have serious ramifications for India’s security policy and its efforts to combat terrorism in the region.