Illegal International SIMs availability : Threat to national security

Islamabad:-(Mudassar Iqbal)-Illegal International SIMs availability : Threat to national security, In the bustling streets of Pakistan, a hidden danger lurks in the shadows. Millions of illegal international SIMs, unregistered and untraceable, have infiltrated the country’s telecommunication networks. These shadowy lines of communication pose a significant threat to national security, facilitating terrorism, fraud, and espionage.

According to details, few days back Journalists have received chilling calls and messages from foreign numbers, a stark reminder of the ease with which these SIMs can be used for malicious purposes. This raised series of questions in the minds of journalists regarding international numbers availability in Pakistan.

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On a detail research it was shockingly revealed that anyone can get pre-activated international SIMs only in Rs. 2000 at his doorstep via cash on delivery facility. Dozen’s of individuals are openly selling international SIMs using facebook, tiktok ,instagram and olx platforms. Pre activated international Sims from UK, USA, UAE, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Sweden telecom networks are marketed on various social media platforms for the live tiktok, watsapp, paypal and amazon accounts.

According to a security analyst, this situation is really alarming in terms of current security situation in the country. He believes that there are few positive points i.e; support in e-commerce in Pakistan but these points are negligible if we compare it with the exploitations of these SIMs by terrorist organizations and criminal groups. As there are no registration requirements to get these SIMs, so criminal groups currently use these SIMs for the communication, he added.

Here is Some links,

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PTA Intensifies Digital Regulation with New Web Management System

Lax regulations and especially lazy attitude of the government authorities i.e; PTA, NACTA etc have created a fertile ground for the proliferation of these illegal SIMs. Readily availability in markets and online platforms, with fake identities and unverified registration have raised lots of questions on the performance of these bodies. Government authorities seem ignorant of this shadow communication network in the country cause of the usual lazy bureaucratic attitude.

No action against Illegal International SIMs network,

The story of international illegal SIMs is a complex web of business, entertainment, terrorism, criminal activities and espionage. It’s a tale of how a simple piece of technology can become a weapon of mass destruction.
Will the authorities be willing to untangle the web and restore security to the nation’s communication networks? Only time will tell.