Biological warfare against India: China imparts training to Pak army officers

Indian Intelligence agencies have reported that at least 20 officers of the Pakistan army have been sent to China to undergo training in biological warfare.

The development is particularly worrying as it comes in the backdrop of the of senior army leaders in Pakistan meeting with members of the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

Indian Intelligence agencies feel that the Pakistan army officers who will undergo training in biological warfare may impart the same to the terrorists. It is a well known fact that both the army and the ISI backs terror groups such as the Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

The IB report states that officers from Pakistan in the rank of Major and Captain have been sent to China to train in biological warfare. The IB warns that these officers could be posted along the Line of Control to step up attacks against India.

The threat of bio warfare against India was once before mentioned in an IB reported dating back to 2013. A report by the BioWeapons Monitor listed India's position on biological warfare. There is a plausible threat of bio weapons use, though the chances of state actors using it against India are slim. However, there is a threat from the non state actors, the report stated.

As far as India is concerned, a possible bioterrorism tactic would appeal to Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Tayiba and other Kashmir centric groups. The outfit is aware about the potential utility of bio weapon pathogen as it had observed the large-scale disruptions during the US anthrax letter cases. Also, it does not have to recruit or employ microbiologists or life scientists to carry out bioterrorist attacks. As a matter of fact it has the most robust medical and path lab network in Pakistan and many of its activists are trained medical professionals. It runs the Ad Dawa medical missions, Taiba Hospitals and Path Labs in Lahore, Karachi and number of mobile dispensaries.

OneIndia News