Patiala Plot Reveals Malaysia Connection Of Khalistani Assets Backed By Pakistan's ISI | Exclusive

Last Updated:April 29, 2026, 16:14 IST

The ISI is now directing its Khalistani operatives to target India’s economic backbone: its critical infrastructure and major trade hubs

In exclusive inputs accessed by CNN-News18, intelligence agencies have flagged a dangerous shift in the strategy of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Thwarted by a sustained crackdown on fidayeen-style assaults and gangster-led violence, the ISI is now directing its Khalistani assets to target India’s economic backbone: its critical infrastructure and major trade hubs.

The Botched Sabotage in Patiala

The new “infrastructure terror" doctrine was exposed on Monday night when a pro-Khalistan module attempted to sabotage the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)—a vital symbol of India’s economic connectivity. Jagroop Singh, a resident of Panjwar village in Tarn Taran, was killed instantly when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) he was attempting to plant detonated prematurely.

The blast occurred on the railway tracks near Bathonia village in Patiala district. According to Patiala railway track police, Jagroop was part of a module linked to radical outfits like Chalda Vaheer and potentially the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). While the saboteur was “blown to pieces", the freight corridor suffered only minor damage, and rail traffic was restored within hours.

Malaysia: The New Strategic Safe House

Intelligence dossiers reviewed by News18 highlight Malaysia as an emerging strategic hub for the Khalistan-ISI nexus. Logistical convenience and socio-political factors have turned the South East Asian nation into a “soft spot" for anti-India operations.

Agencies suggest that the proximity of Malaysia to major maritime routes allows for the seamless coordination of arms and drug shipments. This narco-terror nexus—utilising the smuggling of heroin and meth—provides the primary funding for Khalistani modules in Punjab. The trend is not entirely new; in 2022, the NIA arrested Harpreet Singh, an operative linked to the Ludhiana Court blast, immediately upon his arrival from Kuala Lumpur.

From Targeted Killings to Economic Sabotage

The shift to infrastructure targets comes as intelligence “chatter" reveals that traditional fidayeen attacks on security forces have become increasingly difficult. With the dismantling of local gangster networks that once provided muscle for terror acts, ISI handlers in Pakistan, Malaysia, Canada, and Germany have issued new directives: hit the power grid, disrupt the railways, and damage public property.

Previously, radicals like Harmeet Singh “Happy PhD" operated Malaysia-based cells from Pakistan to establish contact points within Punjab. Today, those networks have evolved into sophisticated, remotely handled modules that prioritise economic disruption over mass casualty events, hoping to stall India’s industrial momentum through low-intensity but high-impact sabotage.

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