YouTuber, tourist, influencer, spy: How Pak's ISI is rewriting rules of espionage
Chandigarh: Punjab Police suspect that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is employing a new espionage strategy by leveraging the wide reach of Indian YouTubers — not just to gather information of vital installations but also to influence public opinion online.
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After the arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on spying charges by Haryana Police, Punjab Police Wednesday arrested YouTuber Jasbir Singh, with 11 lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel, for his alleged involvement in espionage activities.
In the last one month, Punjab Police have arrested at least eight others, from a cobbler to a tailor and to SIM card seller from various places in the state, on spying charges.
Police believe that ISI was working on "traditional and evolved forms of espionage".
"In an evolved strategy, Pakistan are likely to have tapped the YouTubers for their outreach and accessibility. Such noted YouTubers carry a cover of respectability and goodwill. They have recognition and identity. Due to this, they get access to so many places without facing any hindrance. For instance, they can pass on the strategic information of vital installations, like some dam, while making a video where they show it as a tourist place," according to a police officer.
"There is high possibility that enemy would also use them for narrative campaigns and not only for information gathering of vital installations. Take the example of recent conflict between India and Pakistan. Many would say we defeated Pakistan. There would be others who would say we lost. So, the enemy can use such influencers for a narrative creation also which suits it," said the officer.
The officer further said police were probing in detail as to since when Pakistan had been using them for information gathering of strategic places and installations, and for the creation of any narratives.
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"We are looking deeply into the espionage network which has been busted. Was it created recently around Pahalgam terrorist attack or Pakistan was working on it for long. Pakistani officials develop such networks gradually. They would invite them in their programs, interact with them, do their khaatirdaari, and gradually start using them. What actual damage in terms of sharing sensitive information the arrested accused were able to do eventually is another story.
But, they were compromised, this is for sure," said the police officer.
Jasbir Singh on his YouTube channel 'JaanMahal video' put out number of videos of his visits to Pakistan in which Jyoti Malhotra also feature prominently. Apart from their visits to Sikh religious places in Pakistan, Jasbir and Jyoti are also seen in videos together along with other people accompanying them in other places – like in a video titled 'yaar honi ghumde Lahore ni', savouring among other things street food of Lahore.
In another video put out by Jasbir, Jyoti is seen eating what she calls Pakistani golgappe (water balls).
Announcing Jasbir's arrest on Wednesday, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that Jasbir maintained "a close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra." The DGP revealed that Jasbir visited Pakistan on three occasions in 2020, 2021 and 2024 and came into direct contact with ISI officers, who subsequently cultivated and recruited him to carry out espionage activities within India.
Yadav said Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi last year on the invitation of Pakistani national and expelled Pak High Commission official Ehsan-ur-Rahim aka Danish. As per police, Jasbir used his social media platform as "cover to share sensitive information about Indian Army movements and activities with Pakistani handlers".
Cobbler to tailor: 'Spies' in Punjab Police net
April 28 | A cobbler, Sunil Kumar, was arrested from Bathinda military station for alleged espionage activities.
He had been working at the station for the last seven years. A woman is suspected to have trapped him to get sensitive information.
May 3 | Two persons, Suraj Masih and Phalak Sher Masih, both resident of Bahlarwal village, Ajnala, Amritsar, were arrested for "transmitting sensitive information and photographs of Army cantonment areas, BSF positions, police units and air bases in Amritsar to their Pakistani handlers".
May 8 | Malerkotla residents Gazala and Yameen Mohamad were arrested for "leaking classified military information to a Pakistan-based handler". The name of Pakistan High Commission official Danish surfaced in the case. According to Punjab Police, sharing of information by them led to the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra in Haryana.
May 12 | Neeraj Kumar, a resident of Shahpurkandi in Pathankot who used to sell SIM cards, was arrested for suspected espionage after a SIM allegedly issued by him was found active in Pakistan before being deactivated.
May 12 | Rakib, a tailor working at Bathinda cantonment was arrested after he was alleged to be "in contact with suspected Pakistan intelligence operative numbers and in possession of suspicious military document".
May 15 | Police arrest Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh for "supplying sensitive related to Operation Sindoor to Pak's ISI" in Gurdaspur district.
June 3 | Tarn Taran police had arrested Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan for "sharing sensitive information concerning Army movements during Operation Sindoor with Pakistan-based pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla, operating under the command of the ISI".
June 3 | Ropar-based YouTuber Jasbir Singh was arrested for "spying for Pakistan's ISI".
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