Pakistan's rapid expansion of its spy satellite network, which has grown faster than ever in just 16 months, is a cause for concern. The country has launched five remote sensing satellites in this short timeframe, all with orbits favouring South Asian coverage. These satellites, including the high-resolution Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite-2 (PRSS-2) and the hyperspectral HS-1, are designed to track military movements in real time and provide continuous border surveillance. The imagery produced can identify camouflage, distinguish between different materials, and spot structural changes on the ground.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the choice of orbit for these satellite deployments. All of Pakistan's recent satellites have been placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit, which allows them to pass over the same locations at roughly the same time each time. This makes it easier to compare images over time and detect changes on the ground. However, the real intention behind these satellites was recently exposed by COMSPOC, a US-based firm that provides commercial off-the-shelf software for space situational awareness. Their findings showed that Pakistan's PRSC-EO3 was displaying an "unusual orbit for an optical satellite", laser focused on Kashmir.
This raises a deeper question: are these satellites truly for civilian purposes, or are they a military build-up? Experts warn that the sudden revival of Pakistan's space programme, with technical and launch support from China, and the choice of orbit for these satellite deployments, might not be an innocent coincidence. The Chinese satellites monitor Indian territory more than even India does, and each inch of Indian territory is under surveillance. This spells an even more worrying trend against the backdrop of India's own back-to-back launch failures over the past year, three of which involved strategic satellites.
In my opinion, the unusual pace of Pakistan's space programme and the choice of orbit for these satellites suggest a deliberate and coordinated effort to enhance their surveillance capabilities. The fact that these satellites can track movements in real time and support precision-guided strikes further raises concerns. While Pakistan may pitch these satellites innocently for agriculture, disaster management, and telecommunication purposes, their military uses cannot be overlooked. The real intention behind these satellites was recently exposed by COMSPOC, a US-based firm that provides commercial off-the-shelf software for space situational awareness. Their findings showed that Pakistan's PRSC-EO3 was displaying an "unusual orbit for an optical satellite", laser focused on Kashmir.
What this really suggests is that Pakistan is building a multi-modal ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) constellation, which could be used for both civilian and military purposes. The fact that these satellites are launched by China and have orbits favouring South Asian coverage further raises suspicions. The Chinese satellites monitor Indian territory more than even India does, and each inch of Indian territory is under surveillance. This is a cause for concern, and India needs to understand that its territories are under constant surveillance. The only way to counter surveillance is through surveillance, and India needs to increase its own eyes in the sky.
