If Operation Sindoor has been successful so far in the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict near the Jammu Kashmir border, it’s all down to months, years and even decades of hard work by India’s intelligence agencies – led by RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and supported by technical arms like NTRO (National Technical Research Organisation) and DIA (Defence Intelligence Agency).
SurveyThese Indian intelligence agencies have leveraged cutting-edge technologies to gather actionable intelligence on Pakistan targets during the May 2025 armed conflict. From information available in public domain, here’s how India’s intelligence agencies used cyber tools, satellites and even AI to get credible information to empower Indian defence forces’ precision-guided military operations:
1. AI-driven social media analysis
According to reports, the NTRO’s NETRA system uses cutting-edge AI and ML to scan social media platforms and online forums for extremist content, terrorist communications, and disinformation campaigns linked to Pakistani proxies. It utilises Open Source Intelligence or OSINT framework, where the goal is to use this freely accessible information on social media platforms to gain insights and make informed decisions.
Also read: Operation Sindoor: India’s military tech and precision strike capability explained
In 2023 alone, NETRA flagged over 12,000 suspicious posts, enabling preemptive countermeasures, according to a defence analysis. This real-time monitoring helps RAW and military intelligence identify emerging threats and radicalization efforts.
2. Satellite and aerial surveillance
India’s RISAT-2BR1 satellite, launched in 2022, provides all-weather radar imaging to monitor Pakistani military movements and terror camps such as those in Balakot.
Combined with UAV (drone) surveillance, this satellite technology offers persistent situational awareness along the border, crucial for planning strikes and counterterrorism operations, according to a TOI report.
3. Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and cyber reconnaissance
RAW and NTRO intercept satellite communications and electronic signals to gather intelligence on Pakistani military communications and command structures.
Also read: India-Pak conflict: 5 examples of rise in cyber warfare threats
Cyber reconnaissance units scan for vulnerabilities in Pakistani networks, enabling offensive cyber operations and disruption of terror financing and logistics.
4. Advanced data analytics and machine learning
The vast data collected from multiple sources-satellites, social media, intercepted communications-is processed using AI and machine learning algorithms to detect patterns, forecast attacks, and prioritize targets.
This multi-source fusion enhances the precision and timeliness of intelligence provided to decision-makers.
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5. Interagency coordination and covert operations
RAW coordinates closely with the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and Corps of Military Intelligence (CMI), integrating technical intelligence with human intelligence (HUMINT).
Covert teams like CIT-X and CIT-J, created in response to cross-border terrorism in the 1980s, conduct targeted operations based on this intelligence, blending technology with traditional espionage.
This shows that India’s intelligence gathering during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict exemplified a high-tech hybrid approach-melding AI-powered social media monitoring, satellite and drone surveillance, signals interception, and cyber operations-to maintain strategic advantage over Pakistan.
Also read: India-Pak conflict: Govt reportedly orders telcos to ensure connectivity, secure border networks
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