Summary
- A Pakistani travel agent, Noshaba Shehzad, allegedly helped Indian influencers cross into Pakistan, laying the groundwork for a covert ISI-led spy network.
- Intelligence reports claim over 500 sleeper agents were embedded across India, exploiting pilgrimage visas and social media outreach.
- Pakistani embassy officials in Delhi are under scrutiny for facilitating expedited visas, with the espionage operation allegedly targeting Hindu and Sikh communities.
Espionage via Instagram: The Hidden Battleground of Influence
The murky frontier between cross-border tourism and covert surveillance has taken a new twist in the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions. Intelligence sources have uncovered what appears to be a sprawling espionage apparatus facilitated not by soldiers or diplomats, but by influencers, tourism agents, and visa officers. At the heart of it is Noshaba Shehzad—a Lahore-based businesswoman and travel agent—now suspected of spearheading an ISI-directed infiltration strategy using pilgrimage and social media as camouflage. As digital borders become harder to police, this case sheds light on the convergence of tech, soft power, and state-backed surveillance in South Asia.
For over six months, Shehzad reportedly used her agency, Jaiyana Travel and Tourism, to bring nearly 3,000 Indian citizens and 1,500 NRIs into Pakistan. Under the guise of religious pilgrimages, many of these travelers were allegedly pre-vetted or groomed as information couriers. The reach of the operation extended from Lahore to Delhi’s visa desks, and deep into social media ecosystems where seemingly benign influencers played roles far more complex than they let on.
ISI's 'Madame N' Allegedly Recruited Indian Influencers As Spies For Pakistan: Report
— Timeline. (@timelinelatest) June 5, 2025
A Lahore-based businesswoman, Noshaba Shehzad, allegedly operating under Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been identified as a key player in orchestrating visits of Indian… pic.twitter.com/2gFBBqFkct
The Viral Route to Vulnerability
- Shehzad allegedly acted under the codename ‘Madam N’ within ISI circles.
- Indian influencers, like the arrested Jyoti Malhotra, were reportedly introduced to Pakistani intelligence contacts.
- The operation is said to have embedded over 500 covert assets within India.
The sleeper cell model is nothing new, but the integration of social media personalities marks an unsettling evolution. Indian influencers were given unprecedented access to Pakistani territory, reportedly with help from Shehzad’s direct contacts in the Pakistani embassy in Delhi. Notably, First Secretary (visa) Suhail Qamar and Counsellor (trade) Umar Sheryar are suspected of playing roles in streamlining visa approvals. In a telling detail, Danish alias Ehsan-ur-Rehman, an expelled ISI agent and former visa officer, was closely linked to the scandal and removed from India in May.
According to interrogations, Shehzad’s agency had carte blanche to facilitate pilgrimages—despite the absence of formal tourism visa agreements between the two countries. Her agency worked in coordination with the Evacuee Trust Property Board, a body often associated with managing Sikh and Hindu religious visits to Pakistan. The cover was perfect: faith, nostalgia, and culture, all masking surveillance logistics.
Who Was Watching Whom?
- The Indian Hindu and Sikh communities were reportedly key targets of the operation.
- Influencer trips were marketed heavily via social media, with agents now discovered in major Indian cities.
- The espionage cell may have manipulated cultural diplomacy to build rapport and extract intelligence.
In essence, this wasn’t just about spying. It was about shifting narratives—covertly influencing public sentiment on both sides of the border. By leveraging India’s vibrant influencer economy and coupling it with pilgrimage diplomacy, ISI seems to have engineered a pipeline for both intelligence gathering and psychological softening.
What complicates matters further is the alleged overcharging of Indian pilgrims, with proceeds reportedly funneled into propaganda and influence campaigns. These revelations point not just to a breach of protocol but to a deep-rooted manipulation of Indo-Pak civil society exchanges, weaponizing everything from Instagram stories to religious goodwill.
Red Lines in the Feed: Where Espionage and Influence Collide
The scope and sophistication of the India Pakistan influencer espionage network mark a dangerous precedent for modern espionage. It’s no longer just about intercepted calls or border infiltrations—this is information warfare via selfies and hashtags, sanctioned by shadowy state players.
As the Indian government tightens its scrutiny over social media access, visa issuance, and religious diplomacy, one thing is clear: the influencer era has ushered in a new kind of spy war. In this battle, followers are currency, likes are camouflage, and every travel vlog might hide a far more sinister itinerary.
