ISI may have sold information about eastern theatre to the Chinese

Did Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) arrange to sell information about Indian troop movement in the eastern sector to China? According to defence sources, Fareed Khan, an Indian Army personnel accused of espionage may have passed on some vital information about deployment of troops in the eastern and northeastern states over the last eight months. This information may not be too important for Pakistan but could be extremely crucial for China, now that India has strengthened defences along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
“It is a known fact that the ISI is in regular touch with China. Recently, the ISI was instrumental in brokering a deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government. This happened in China. There has been a lot of development in India’seastern and northeastern sector in the last few years. The Army’s 33 Corps, based at Sukna in north Bengal, is of great strategic importance and is in charge of defences in Sikkim. Khan was posted to the 33 Corps after his deployment in Kashmir. It is likely that he collected vital information and sent it back to his handlers,” an official said.
The defence ministry is certainly not taking any chances. The Army has recently raised a Mountain Strike Corps to bolster defences along the LAC. This Corps will be headquartered at Panagarh. A lot of new equipment have also been procured. Air Force Station Panagarh has also been upgraded and will get C-130J Super Hercules aircraft with strategic capabilities. China would certainly want to get more information on these developments. Air bases under the Eastern Air Command are also being upgraded.
“It is difficult for the Chinese to infiltrate the Indian system by themselves. The ISI, on the other hand, already has assets in India and can exploit weaknesses in the system quite easily. Both Pakistan and China can mutually benefit from any information ISI agents gather about the Indian armed forces. Pakistan can use this information as a bargaining chip. We have increased vigil at all military installations in north Bengal and the Northeast. This is no mean task as there are several bases spread across north Bengal. We are also carrying out special checks at strategic air bases like Hasimara and Tezpur. These bases are getting new assets like aircraft and missiles. Moles at such locations can do a lot of damage,” the official added.
With India paying more attention to defence procurement now, China may not be as confident as in the past of its capabilities to steamroll across defences along the LAC. One of the greatest worries for China is the capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF) which now has several more force multipliers than ever before. In the east and northeast, the Army and the IAF is also preparing to work in tandem to counter any attempt to breach the LAC. Only timely information about deployment and plans can give China that much needed edge in a short but sharp skirmish if it comes to that, a senior Army officer said.
 source