ThePrint newsbreak reveals plausible Pakistani link to Pahalgam massacre | SoumyaPillai joins

Summary

The video discusses the investigation led by Somia Ple, a science journalist, into suspicious satellite imagery orders linked to the Pelgam region after a massacre occurred there. Somia uncovered a surge in orders for high-resolution images of Pelgam in February, raising questions about potential foreign involvement. Her research pointed to BSI Private Limited, a company linked to a Pakistani-origin individual, Obedullah Say, who had a criminal history related to nuclear smuggling. The investigation reveals potential security concerns involving Maxar Technologies, a major supplier of satellite images, and its ties to sensitive regions. This story explores the intersection of international espionage, security, and journalism.

Takeaways

• 😀 Somia Ple, a senior assistant editor and science journalist, discovered a plausible connection between satellite imagery sales and the Pelgam massacre, a significant story in the context of ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
• 😀 Somia's curiosity led her to analyze the sales records of Maxar Technologies, which provides high-resolution satellite imagery, and notice an unusual uptick in orders for images of the Pelgam region prior to the massacre.
• 😀 In February 2024, 30 orders for high-resolution images of the Pelgam region were placed, a sharp increase from the typical average of 1.5 orders per month over the previous year.
• 😀 The connection deepened when it was revealed that BSI Private Limited, a company founded by a man of Pakistani origin, had placed these orders. This raised suspicions about the intent behind the imagery purchases.
• 😀 BSI's founder, Obedullah Say, had previously been convicted for selling nuclear secrets to Pakistan, making his involvement with Maxar and the Pelgam orders even more questionable.
• 😀 Maxar removed BSI's name from its partner list after the story gained attention, which raised further concerns about the company's internal practices and due diligence regarding its clients.
• 😀 Maxar is a key supplier of satellite imagery to several governments, including India's, which uses its services for defense, security, and intelligence purposes. The uptick in Pelgam-related orders raised alarms within security agencies.
• 😀 The satellite imagery purchased was of extremely high resolution, capable of revealing minute details like human figures and infrastructure, making it a critical tool for military or strategic purposes.
• 😀 While the connection between BSI and the Pelgam massacre is not definitive, the sequence of events and the involvement of a convicted nuclear smuggler suggest a potential link that warrants further investigation.
• 😀 The investigation also revealed that there were significant gaps in Maxar's oversight of its partners, as BSI, a company with questionable origins and a convicted founder, had been allowed access to sensitive imagery of Indian regions.

Q & A

What was the primary focus of Somia Ple's investigation?

Somia Ple's investigation primarily focused on the unusual increase in satellite imagery orders for the Pelgam region, which led her to discover a potential link to a Pakistani company and a convicted individual with a history of nuclear smuggling.

How did Somia Ple come across the suspicious orders for Pelgam satellite images?

Somia Ple noticed a sudden surge in satellite imagery orders for the Pelgam region after reviewing sales records from Maxar Technologies, which led her to investigate further, uncovering significant patterns and connections.

What was the key anomaly in the satellite imagery orders for Pelgam?

The key anomaly was the dramatic increase in orders for Pelgam satellite images in February, with 30 orders placed, compared to the average of 1.5 orders per month in the preceding 12 months, followed by no orders in March and renewed interest after the massacre in April.

Who was the founder of the company BSI Private Limited, and why was he significant to the investigation?

The founder of BSI Private Limited, Obedullah Say, was significant because he had been convicted of nuclear smuggling and had a history of selling sensitive equipment to Pakistan’s Atomic Energy Commission, raising questions about his involvement in suspicious satellite imagery orders.

What did the investigation reveal about the connection between BSI and Maxar Technologies?

The investigation revealed that BSI became a partner with Maxar in 2023, shortly after Obedullah Say completed his jail sentence for his criminal activities, which raised concerns about the motives behind the company's sudden interest in Pelgam satellite imagery.

Why was the resolution of Maxar’s satellite imagery so significant in this case?

Maxar’s satellite imagery is significant because of its high resolution, with images capable of identifying infrastructure and people, making it a powerful tool for military and security purposes. This quality raised concerns about its potential misuse.

How did the international media react to Somia Ple's story about the Pelgam imagery orders?

Somia Ple’s story went viral, catching the attention of international media, as it suggested a plausible connection between satellite imagery orders and a potential military operation related to the Pelgam massacre.

What were the main findings of Somia Ple’s research into Obedullah Say’s background?

Somia Ple discovered that Obedullah Say had been convicted for selling nuclear secrets and sensitive equipment to Pakistan, which gave further credence to suspicions about the potential misuse of the satellite imagery.

What role did Maxar Technologies play in the investigation?

Maxar Technologies was at the center of the investigation as the company that sold the satellite imagery. The investigation raised questions about Maxar’s due diligence in vetting its partners, especially considering the suspicious activity surrounding BSI.

Why was the removal of BSI’s name from Maxar’s partner list significant?

The removal of BSI’s name from Maxar’s partner list raised suspicions of a 'guilty conscience' from Maxar, suggesting that the company might have realized the potential misuse of its satellite imagery and acted to distance itself from BSI after the story gained attention.