Latest news with #MadamN
India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
The Shadow Queen Of ISI: How ‘Madam N' Wove A Spy Web Of Sleeper Agents Across India
New Delhi: In a story that reads like the plot of a high-stakes geopolitical thriller, Indian intelligence agencies have uncovered the presence of a mysterious Pakistani woman known as 'Madam N' – a suave and powerful business tycoon from Lahore with alleged orders straight from Pakistan's notorious spy agency – the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Her mission was to infiltrate India through culture, faith and charm and to raise a ghost army of 500 spies scattered quietly across Indian soil. What began as a routine interrogation of arrested social media influencers turned into the stunning revelation. Hidden behind the polished curtains of diplomacy and travel was Naushaba Shahzad, owner of 'Zyana Travel and Tourism' in Lahore, now accused of masterminding an audacious espionage network that reached deep into India's digital and spiritual spaces. According to sources, Naushaba, under the ISI codename 'Madam N', had been working meticulously for months to build a covert network of sleeper cells in India. She was not sending spies across borders with weapons or radio sets. She was using smartphones, spiritual pilgrimages and social media likes. Her bait? Culture, faith and an open invitation to Pakistan – in the name of Sikh and Hindu pilgrimages. Over just six months, 'Madam N' allegedly brought over 3,000 Indian citizens and 1,500 NRIs to Pakistan. They were not just tourists or devotees. Intelligence inputs suggest many of them unknowingly walked into a well-scripted ISI recruitment program – meeting with military officials, being groomed for 'information gathering' and in some cases, receiving suspicious funding. Her operation was so slick and so invisible that she could allegedly arrange a visa to Pakistan with just a phone call. Her connections ran deep inside Pakistan's diplomatic machinery. One of her key contacts was Danish aka Ahsan-ur-Rahman, an ISI operative posted at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi – recently expelled by India on charges of espionage. But Madam N's real genius was hiding the machinery of a spy factory behind the peaceful facade of religious tourism. She collaborated with Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board, the body responsible for managing Sikh and Hindu shrines in the country. The pilgrimages, the cultural outreach and the hospitality – it was all a shimmering curtain. Behind it, millions of rupees allegedly moved silently to fund ISI propaganda, recruit informants and amplify anti-India narratives. What India has now stumbled upon is not another case of cross-border intelligence warfare, it is a new blueprint of soft-espionage – one that is harder to detect, harder to prove and deeply embedded in the emotional and cultural fabric of the people it targets. Indian security agencies are now in high alert mode. The revelations have jolted the intelligence community, not just for the scale of the network but for the subtlety with which it was built. The story of 'Madam N' is also not about one woman. It is about a reminder that the war for information is not being fought on battlefields anymore. It is being fought on timelines, visas, WhatsApp groups and temple visits. The spy game has changed. And India is finally waking up to just how dangerous the new frontlines are.
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First Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Who is Pakistan's ‘Madam N', who trapped Indian YouTubers arrested for spying?
Naushaba Shahzad Masood reportedly helped Indian social media influencers, including YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, to visit her country. Also known as 'Madam N', she runs a 'travel agency' in Lahore and has links to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) read more A Pakistani businesswoman's name has emerged in the espionage cases linked to Indian YouTubers. 'Madam N' reportedly helped social media influencers travel to her country with the aim of setting up a spy network in India. India has recently arrested some social media influencers on suspicion of spying for Pakistan. Weeks after YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's arrest, the Punjab Police's State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) arrested Jasbir Singh from Mohali on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in a Pakistan-backed espionage ring. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Is 'Madam N' linked to them? Let's take a closer look. Who is 'Madam N'? Pakistani businesswoman Naushaba Shahzad Masood, who runs a 'travel agency' in Lahore, is reportedly linked to the country's spy agency – the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). She is the owner of Jaiyana Travel and Tourism in Pakistan. Masood's husband is a retired civil services officer, as per a News18 India report. What is her role? Known as 'Madam N' by the ISI, Naushaba Masood is suspected of trying to develop a sleeper cell network in India through social influencers and YouTubers. Masood's name cropped up during the interrogation of social media influencers arrested in India on espionage charges, NDTV reported, citing sources. She allegedly helped Jyoti Malhotra and other Indians to visit Pakistan. The YouTuber had travelled to Pakistan multiple times, including days before the Pahalgam terror attack. Masood attempted to build a network of at least 500 spies in India who could hide in plain sight. She got instructions from the Pakistani Army and the ISI on how to establish the sleeper cell network. Masood used to target Hindus and Sikhs living in India. As per NDTV sources, she introduced Indian influencers to her country's army and the ISI. The businesswoman facilitated the visit of nearly 3,000 Indians and 1,500 non-resident Indians (NRIs) to Pakistan in the last six months. Her contacts at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi helped her in getting visas approved immediately, as per News18. She was in touch with First Secretary (visa) Suhail Qamar and Counsellor (trade) Umar Sheryar and ISI operative Danish alias Ehsan-ur-Rehman . Danish, who was in contact with Jyoti Malhotra, was a visa officer in the Pakistani embassy in Delhi. He was declared persona non grata on May 13 by the Indian government on suspicion of spying. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As per NDTV, the Pakistani High Commission has been issuing visitor visas on the suggestion and sponsorship of 'Madam N'. Masood appointed some travel agents in Delhi and other Indian cities, who now promote her company on social media. These agents are allegedly involved in brainwashing people to indulge in espionage activities on behalf of the Pakistani Army. Notably, Masood's agency was the only one that organised Sikh and Hindu pilgrimages to Pakistan, in collaboration with the Evacuee Trust Property Board. Indian YouTubers arrest Jyoti Rani Malhotra, a travel vlogger from Haryana, was among 11 individuals arrested across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh last month in connection with a suspected Pakistan-backed spy network operating in North India. She was allegedly spying for Pakistani intelligence agencies and shared 'sensitive information' with an official of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. Earlier this week, the Punjab Police arrested YouTuber Jasbir Singh, who is allegedly linked to Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, a Pakistani intelligence operative associated with the ISI. Singh, who ran the YouTube channel 'JaanMahal video', was in touch with fellow YouTuber Malhotra. He was also in regular contact with Danish, the former official at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Madam N' and influencer spies: How Pakistani businesswoman built sleeper cell network in India; ISI-backed spy ring under lens
This is an AI generated image, used only for represenative purpose (Image credit: Denny) As India cracks down on a suspected Pakistan-backed spy ring spreading across the country, one unsettling question emerges: How did Indian influencers end up working against their own country? At the center of this mystery is Noshaba Shehzad, a Pakistani businesswoman with high-level connections and a seemingly ordinary travel agency, Jaiyana Travel and Tourism. But behind the tourist brochures, Shehzad allegedly helped orchestrate a sophisticated espionage network with the backing of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). According to sources cited by NDTV, Shehzad isn't just a travel agent, she's 'Madam N', an ISI codename for the woman who reportedly laid the groundwork for a sleeper cell network inside India, with a target of recruiting up to 500 operatives who could blend in with the population unnoticed. Her strategy? Start with influencers. Arrested Instagram personality Jyoti Malhotra was allegedly among the many Indian citizens Shehzad lured into Pakistan under the pretext of cultural trips and tourism. But what began as guided visits soon turned into groundwork for spying. Sources say Shehzad worked hand-in-hand with Pakistani officials and ISI handlers, even manipulating the visa process through the Pakistani Embassy in Delhi. With just a call to key officials like Suhail Qamar (First Secretary, Visa) and Umar Sheryar (Counsellor, Trade), Shehzad could reportedly get Pakistani visas approved almost instantly for people she handpicked. She was also in close contact with Danish aka Ehsan-ur-Rehman, a known ISI operative working at the embassy until he was expelled in May—shortly after Malhotra's arrest. Notably, Madam N's husband is said to be a retired officer of Pakistan's civil services, adding another layer to her insider access. Though there is no official tourism corridor between India and Pakistan, Shehzad allegedly managed to send over 3,000 Indian citizens and 1,500 NRIs across the border in just six months. Many of these trips were organized under the banner of religious pilgrimage, Sikh and Hindu yatras permitted only through her agency, thanks to a tie-up with Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board. Investigators believe the agency was used not only to facilitate travel but also to funnel funds into anti-India propaganda efforts. Pilgrims were reportedly overcharged, with the excess diverted for covert operations. Shehzad's network didn't stop at Pakistan's border. She's said to have recruited travel agents in Delhi and other Indian cities, creating a domestic pipeline to push unsuspecting Indian citizens into her espionage web.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Who Is Pakistan's 'Madam N', Travel Agent Linked With Indian YouTubers Nabbed For Spying?
Last Updated: A Pakistani woman named Naushaba Shahzad Masood, also known as 'Madam N', is allegedly responsible for using social media influencers in espionage activities against India. In a major revelation in espionage cases against India involving YouTubers Jyoti Malhotra and Jasbir Singh with connections to Pakistan, the name of a Pakistani woman known as 'Madam N' has come to light. Naushaba Shahzad Masood, who was identified as 'Madam N' by intelligence services, is reportedly connected to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). She is allegedly involved in spying and attempting to create sleeper cells in India by using social media influencers and YouTubers. This revelation came after Jasbir Singh, a YouTuber with over 1.1 million subscribers on his channel 'Jaan Mahal", was arrested by the Punjab Police's State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, for his alleged involvement in a Pakistan-backed espionage network. Who Is 'Madam N'? Naushaba Shahzad Masood runs a travel and tourism business in Lahore, which is called 'Jaiyana Travels and Tourism'. Her husband is a retired civil services officer in Pakistan, according to News18 India. However, an investigation has revealed that Masood has been trying to set up a network of 500 spies in India at the behest of ISI and the Pakistani Army, by influencing social media influencers and YouTubers. She particularly targeted people from the Hindu and Sikh communities. Masood has allegedly placed her agents in several Indian cities, including Delhi, where they promote her travel agency via social media and other channels. These agents are reportedly engaged in persuading individuals to participate in espionage activities on behalf of the Pakistani Army. How Did She Carry Out Her Plans? In the last six months, Masood has facilitated the entry of nearly 3,000 Indians and 1,500 Indians living abroad into Pakistan, the probe revealed. She was in direct contact with the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, where she used her contacts to get visas approved immediately. She had deep relations with Visa First Secretary Suhail Qamar, Trade Counsellor Umar Sheryar and an officer named Danish associated with ISI, who had allegedly helped Jyoti Malhotra and was expelled from the country. Hence, visas were being provided to Indians at Masood's request. Using Sikh, Hindu Pilgrims The investigation further revealed that Masood single-handedly handled the tours of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims in Pakistan in collaboration with the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). She charged more money from the passengers and used it for Pakistani propaganda and ISI activities. Her contact number was located on the phones of the arrested spies. Additionally, two Pakistani bank accounts have also been found, through which funds were transferred from India. The money trail from these accounts is currently under investigation. Two content creators – Jasbir Singh and Haryana-based Jyoti Malhotra – are currently under custody for espionage activities. The action on spy networks within the country comes in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead and the four-day military conflict with Pakistan that followed. First Published: June 05, 2025, 16:36 IST
NDTV
5 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
How 'Madam N' Lured Indian Social Media Influencers To Spy For Pakistan
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Noshaba Shehzad, a Lahore travel agency owner, allegedly aided Indian influencers in espionage for Pakistan's ISI. Known as 'Madam N', she facilitated their travel, established a spy network, and manipulated visa processes, profiting from pilgrimage tours. Srinagar/New Delhi: A businesswoman who runs a 'travel agency' in Pakistan's Lahore has been identified as the person who helped Indian social media influencers travel to her country and set the groundwork for using them as spies, sources have said. Working under Pakistan's espionage agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the businesswoman Noshaba Shehzad who runs the Lahore-based company 'Jaiyana Travel and Tourism', helped Indian social media influencers like Jyoti Malhotra - who was arrested recently - and many others to visit Pakistan, sources said. Known by the codename 'Madam N' by the ISI, Ms Shehzad came into the picture during interrogation of arrested social media influencers in India, sources said, adding she had been working to set up a massive sleeper cell network of at least 500 spies who can hide in plain sight across India. Ms Shehzad's husband is a retired officer of the Pakistani civil services. The Pakistani Army and the ISI sent her instructions on how to set up the sleeper cell network in India, sources said. Sources said the Pakistani businesswoman introduced Indian social media influencers to her country's army and the ISI, and would lure Hindus and Sikhs living in India. She helped nearly 3,000 citizens from India and 1,500 non-resident Indians (NRIs) visit Pakistan in the last six months, sources said. Ms Shehzad's influence reached the visa department of the Pakistani embassy in Delhi. She had been in touch with the First Secretary (visa) Suhail Qamar and Counsellor (trade) Umar Sheryar, which meant that whoever she wanted would get a Pakistani visa immediately, "with a single phone call", sources said. She was also in touch with ISI operative Danish alias Ehsan-ur-Rehman, who worked as a visa officer in the Pakistani embassy in Delhi. Danish was expelled from India in May, after Jyoti Malhotra was exposed. While there is neither any system to send tourists from India to Pakistan nor any process to issue tourist visas to Indian citizens, the Pakistani High Commission had been issuing visitor visas on the recommendation and sponsorship of 'Madam N'. Her connection with the Pakistani Army and the ISI can also be understood from the fact that her company is the only agency that organises Sikh and Hindu pilgrimage to Pakistan, which works in collaboration with the Evacuee Trust Property Board. On the side, Ms Shehzad charged a huge amount of money from Indian pilgrims and used the funds for promoting Pakistani propaganda, sources said. She recently appointed some travel agents in Delhi and other cities, who are now promoting her company on social media.
