Pakistani intelligence agency ISI is reportedly encouraging its overground workers (OGWs) in Jammu and Kashmir to join mainstream political parties in an attempt to hide terror-related activities, according to security sources and recent interrogation findings.

Officials said the alleged strategy is aimed at using democratic platforms as a cover to avoid surveillance, while continuing activities such as recruitment, fundraising and movement of weapons.

The matter came to light after recent questioning of suspected OGWs by Jammu and Kashmir Police, during which investigators reportedly recovered membership cards of national political parties from their possession.

Security officials believe such affiliation may help operatives avoid suspicion during routine checks and movement across sensitive areas.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police S.P. Vaid said such tactics are not new and have been used earlier to mislead security forces. He noted that political membership cards can sometimes be misused as a cover during searches and movement.

Similar cases have been reported in the past as well. In one incident in 2020 in Reasi, a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba operative was arrested and was later found to be linked with a political party's social media unit in Jammu. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from him at the time.

Officials also pointed out that in earlier years, terrorists have used fake identity documents such as voter IDs and Aadhaar cards to evade detection and operate within civilian areas.

Security agencies now say many terror networks in Jammu and Kashmir have been weakened in recent years due to counter-terror operations, but attempts are being made to rebuild underground support systems.