The 'taxi driver-spy' who almost slipped through the cracks: How India nabbed ISI's man before it was too late
How it unfolded: From Nepal route to Delhi trap
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Ansarul Miya Ansari's Trail: From taxi driver in Qatar to radicalised agent
Akhlaque Azam: The logistics man in Ranchi
Pak High Commission under lens
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In a calculated and stealthy operation that ran from January to March 2025, Indian intelligence agencies dismantled an ISI-backed spy network just in time to prevent a planned terror attack in the heart of the national capital, as reported by TOI. The mission, which authorities described as 'a masterclass in espionage craft,' ended with the arrest of two individuals: Ansarul Miya Ansari , a Pakistani-trained operative of Nepali origin, and Akhlaque Azam , an Indian national aiding the plot from within.On 15 February, Ansari was arrested in central Delhi, found in possession of confidential documents related to the Indian Armed Forces. He was on his way to exit India via Nepal when officials moved in. This seemingly routine arrest cracked open a far more serious operation tied directly to Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI The operation began with a vague but urgent tip-off. Indian agencies had received intelligence that a foreign agent had entered Delhi via Nepal to gather sensitive military information. The stakes were high — sources revealed plans for a strike targeting strategic sites, including Palam Air Force Base, the CGO Complex, and Delhi Cantonment.Officers acted with precision. A source close to the operation said, 'Our men were making efforts to collect information about Pak-backed terror outfits active in different parts of India and sleeper cells providing logistic support to them.'The mission was activated in response to increasing threats in the region, especially after ISI-supported groups like Babbar Khalsa International launched grenade attacks in Punjab. With Delhi in the crosshairs, agencies chose to move decisively.Ansari's path to espionage started far from India. During interrogation, he confessed that he had been working as a taxi driver in Qatar since 2008, where he was recruited by an ISI handler. 'In June 2024, he visited Pakistan for a month, where he was introduced to high-ranking officials of the Pakistani Army and radicalised by discussing issues like the Babri Masjid demolition and the implementation of CAA/NRC in India,' the court report noted.He was trained in spycraft and handed the mission to enter Delhi via Nepal, collect military secrets, and pass them back to ISI. His assignment included creating a CD of the stolen documents for safe transfer.After Ansari's arrest, interrogation led to another key suspect: Akhlaque Azam. Arrested in March during a coordinated raid in Ranchi, Azam was allegedly providing logistical support to Ansari while maintaining regular contact with Pakistani handlers. According to sources, 'The two were in constant communication with their Pakistani handlers, and their conversations were laced with suspicion and intrigue.'Mobile phone analysis revealed incriminating exchanges suggesting a much wider conspiracy, with digital traces leading back to known ISI operatives Muzammil and Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish. These names also came up in separate probes into the activities of Pakistani diplomatic staff in Delhi.The investigation uncovered evidence of involvement by individuals within the Pakistan High Commission. Indian authorities suspect that diplomatic cover may have been misused by ISI officers who were attempting to influence local YouTubers and social media influencers to act as unwitting information conduits.In a related crackdown, a YouTuber from Hisar, Haryana — Jyoti Malhotra — was arrested recently for allegedly sharing sensitive information and being in regular contact with a Pakistani citizen.The seriousness of the case led to the filing of a chargesheet in May under the Official Secrets Act. Both accused — Ansari and Azam — remain in high-security custody at Tihar Jail. Authorities are keeping a close watch to ensure they do not radicalise or influence other inmates.The trial is expected to begin shortly. A senior officer involved in the probe remarked, 'We are on high alert to prevent any threats to national security. It may be a cat-and-mouse game, but India's agencies want to be the ones holding the reins.'The operation is being seen as a pre-emptive success — not just in thwarting an espionage plot, but in exposing the deeper tentacles of foreign influence attempting to undermine India's internal security from within.(With inputs from TOI)
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