Two months prior to the fatal terrorist strike in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, a US space technology firm witnessed an unusual spike in orders for high-resolution satellite images of Pahalgam and the surrounding areas, ThePrint reported.
Maxar Technologies Receive Orders of Images of Pahalgam
Maxar Technologies received an unusual spate of orders for satellite images of Pahalgam from February 2 to 22, 2025, when it received at least 12 orders, double its normal count.
These orders had begun to appear on the portal of the company as early as June 2024, soon after Maxar had tied up with Business Systems International Pvt Ltd (BSI), a Pakistan-based geo-spatial firm with US federal crime links, the report said.
Questionable Background of BSI
The report further stated that information does not show whether orders for satellite images of Pahalgam were placed by the Pakistani company, Business Systems International Pvt Ltd (BSI).
Yet, defence experts, scientists, and analysts interviewed by ThePrint warned that the coincidence cannot be ruled out, given the controversial background of the founder of the company, Obaidullah Syed.
Controversial Background of BSI’s Founder
Pakistani-American businessman was found guilty and sentenced to prison for one year by an American federal court for exporting illegal high-performance computer gear and software to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), the organiser of planning and testing of high explosives, components of nuclear weapons, and constructing solid-fueled ballistic missiles.
Maxar’s website, accessed by ThePrint, had it that aside from Pahalgam, satellite imagery shot other sensitive parts of India including Pulwama, Anantnag, Poonch, Rajouri, and Baramulla. Each satellite imagery begins at the base price of ₹3 lakh, depending on the resolution of the image.
Significance of Satellite Surveillance Amidst Pahalgam Attack
“Satellite surveillance has become the backbone of any country’s intelligence. While it is unclear whether these images could have been used for planning the April 22 attacks in Pahalgam, India could ask Maxar to conduct an investigation into the ordered images,” the report has quoted an ISRO scientist as saying.
Defence agencies frequently utilise high-resolution images to monitor troop movements, track weapon installations, assess infrastructure development, and detect activities like illegal border crossings, unauthorised incursions, and smuggling.
