How Pakistan High Commission In New Delhi Is A ‘Sleeper Cell' Of ISI
"Pakistan High Commission officials use their diplomatic immunity to recruit agents and facilitate espionage,' say top intelligence sources
The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi is acting as a covert hub or sleeper cell of Islamabad's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), according to top intelligence sources.
'Mass scale embassy recruitment is possibly to map targets for fidayeen attacks in the future. The idea is to know the entry points, exits, gate strength and guarding pattern," said sources.
According to sources, many, like Jyoti Malhotra, used to make videos from sensitive locations showing the overall guarding pattern.
'The ISI focuses on regions like Uttar Pradesh to identify individuals disillusioned by socio-economic disparities or perceived injustices. ISI officials in Pakistan have asked local staffers to recruit every group capable of raising voice against India. Pakistan High Commission officials use their diplomatic immunity to recruit agents and facilitate espionage," said sources.
ISI officials are always working as visa officials in the embassy and working under diplomatic cover as First Secretary or Minister. ISI staffers sometimes project themselves as husband and wife initially to make a person comfortable.
CASES IN POINT: WHAT SOURCES SAY
For instance, embassy staffers Ehsan-ur-Rahim (Danish) and Muzammil were implicated to cultivate Indian YouTubers and influencers. Their idea was to gather intelligence or spread pro-Pakistan narratives.
Mohammad Tarif from Mewat was lured with a visa in exchange for providing SIM cards and later tasked with photographing military installations.
Asif Baloch, a former staffer at the Pakistan High Commission, recruited agents like Mohammad Tarif and facilitated their travel to Pakistan for training.
THE TARGETS: WHAT SOURCES SAY
Visa applicants, especially from sensitive regions of Jammu and Kashmir or military families, were targeted. Vulnerable individuals are attracted through offers of expedited visas, financial incentives, or blackmail. Embassy staff allegedly maintain direct communication with ISI handlers in Pakistan.
Individuals in UP's Shamli and Rampur districts like Nauman Ilahi, a security guard, and Shehzad Wahab, a smuggler, were recruited. Nauman Ilahi from Shamli was paid Rs 4,000-5,000 per assignment to share train station maps. Shehzad Wahab from Rampur smuggled goods and shared intel on border security vulnerabilities. They were recruited by exploiting financial hardships and ideological grievances like atrocities on minorities
Recruits like Ansarul Miya Ansari, a Nepali-origin taxi driver, was radicalised using issues like the Babri Masjid demolition and anti-CAA/NRC sentiments during training in Pakistan.
The ISI recruits social media influencers like Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger, to spread propaganda and gather intelligence. Malhotra was groomed by embassy staffer Danish and introduced to Pakistani intelligence officials during her visits to Pakistan.
To avoid detection, recruits are often connected to ISI handlers via intermediaries in third countries like Dubai or Nepal.
Nazir Ahmad Bhat, an ISI recruiter in Jammu, arranged meetings in neutral territories to brief agents.
Recruits are provided fake Pakistani passports to travel via third countries like Dubai or Sri Lanka. Their Indian passports remain unmarked to evade suspicion.
Ansarul Ansari traveled to Pakistan via Nepal using a fake identity after receiving espionage training in Rawalpindi. Once recruited, individuals undergo training in espionage techniques. Ansarul Ansari received training in Pakistan on gathering military documents and coordinates.
Devendra Singh Dhillon, a student from Haryana, was trained via the Kartarpur Corridor and tasked with photographing military cantonments. Recruits are assigned tasks collecting GPS coordinates of military installations and photographing sensitive sites such as airbases, cantonments, especially gates for any fidayeen attacks.
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india Pakistan news18 specials
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
May 23, 2025, 13:24 IST
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