How militants exploited PUBG game features to launch a deadly attack on Pakistani police station? - Explained

Militants in Pakistan’s Swat Valley used features from the popular battle royale game Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) to plan and execute an attack on a police station. The attack, which occurred on August 28, targeted the Banr police station and left one police officer dead and two others injured. This incident highlights how the militants leveraged PUBG’s in-game communication features to evade security detection and coordinate their operations.

The Swat district, also known as the Swat Valley, is situated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and has long been a focal point for militant activity. In this instance, the attackers used PUBG’s chat room feature to avoid traditional electronic surveillance and tracking by Pakistani security agencies. The issue was reported by the Dawn newspaper on behalf of an official.

Use of PUBG’s chat rooms as a communication tool!

One of the key features the militants exploited was PUBG’s chat room. It allowed them to communicate and exchange messages without relying on standard mobile networks or encrypted apps, both of which are often monitored by security agencies.

According to Swat District Police Officer, militants set up a private chat room within the game to organize their plans, making it difficult for authorities to trace their conversations. The attackers were aware that their use of mobile phones would be tracked, so they avoided using conventional communication methods altogether.

What made this attack even more challenging for authorities to track was that the militants did not leave behind any direct evidence during their planning phase. This strategy of using an unexpected platform like a video game allowed the attackers to outmanoeuvre the security forces who were attempting to monitor their communications.

Use of PUBG for training and motivation!

Beyond communication, the militants used PUBG as a way to simulate real-life combat scenarios. The district police officer noted that the attackers engaged in the game not only to communicate but also to "practice and motivate" their group members for the planned assault.

The gaming environment, with its focus on teamwork and tactical warfare, provided an effective platform for the militants to refine their strategies and boost morale. This incident has raised serious concerns about the misuse of online gaming platforms by militant groups.

As the attackers managed to bypass typical surveillance methods, it shows how new technologies, including gaming platforms, can be exploited by malicious actors to carry out real-world violence. Pakistani authorities are now investigating how to better monitor such platforms to prevent future attacks.