Pahalgam Attack Under Scrutiny: Did Satellite Images Play a Role?
The recent terror attack in Pahalgam has ignited a controversy surrounding Maxar Technologies, a US-based satellite and space company. Reports indicate a surge in demand for high-resolution satellite images of Pahalgam in the months leading up to the attack. This, coupled with Maxar's partnership with a Pakistani geo-spatial company, Business System International Pvt Ltd (BSI), whose owner was previously convicted of violating US export laws, has raised serious questions about potential security breaches. Was this a coincidence, or did satellite imagery contribute to the planning and execution of the devastating attack?
Suspicious Orders Preceding the Attack
According to The Print, Maxar received at least a dozen orders for high-resolution satellite images of Pahalgam and its surrounding areas between February 2 and February 22, 2025. These requests continued to appear on the Maxar portal in subsequent months, raising alarm bells among security experts and investigators. The timing is particularly sensitive, as it occurred shortly before the April 22, 2025, terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
The Pakistani Connection: BSI and Obaidullah Syed
The controversy deepens with the revelation of Maxar's partnership with Business System International Pvt Ltd (BSI), a Pakistani geo-spatial company owned by Obaidullah Syed. Syed has a history of legal troubles, having been convicted in 2022 of violating US export laws by sending satellite imagery and services to Pakistani firms, including agencies linked to Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, without proper authorization.
News18 reports that the US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) uncovered Syed's illicit activities as early as 2020, revealing his deep connections to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and the National Development Complex (NDC), both instrumental in developing nuclear weapons and missile systems. Despite this troubling background, BSI became a partner of Maxar in 2023.
Damages Control and Denials
Following the publication of the initial report, Maxar swiftly removed BSI from its partner page. While Maxar denies that BSI specifically ordered the Pahalgam images, the incident has brought their due diligence processes into question. One source familiar with Maxar services told The Print that "The very fact that a Pakistani company was taken on as a partner by Maxar without any background check is alarming."
A Maxar official told India Today TV, “Our records indicate that BSI (the Pakistan-linked firm) has neither placed any tasking orders of Pahalgam or the surrounding areas this year, nor have they ordered any of the imagery of those areas through our archive,” also calling the news reports claiming otherwise “false and misleading”.
Expert Skepticism and Alternative Explanations
While the timing and connections raise concerns, some experts remain skeptical about the direct link between the satellite imagery and the attack. An intelligence officer familiar with the matter told India Today TV, "When you have local support and logistics in the form of sleeper cells, you don’t need fresh satellite imagery to execute a terror plot that involved shooting at tourists from point-blank range." They argued that relying on readily available ground intelligence would be less risky than acquiring high-end satellite imagery.
Nathan Ruser, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), also weighed in, stating, "Nothing in this article successfully demonstrates any abnormal patterns of satellite imaging over the terror attack."
The Bigger Picture: Accessible Satellite Imagery
An industry insider emphasized that access to satellite imagery is no longer limited to large companies or bureaucratic processes. "Today, one can even order a satellite tasking request for new imagery through a mobile app, without even incorporating a company," the insider said, highlighting the increased accessibility and potential for misuse of such technology.
Moving Forward: Due Diligence and Security
The Pahalgam incident raises crucial questions about the responsibility of satellite imaging companies in vetting their partners and preventing the misuse of their technology. The incident underscores the need for stringent due diligence procedures and robust security measures to safeguard sensitive information and prevent potential exploitation by malicious actors.
What are your thoughts on the implications of commercial satellite imagery in national security? Share your opinions in the comments below.
