As Indian authorities unravel the chilling details of a covert spy ring allegedly orchestrated by a Pakistani businesswoman under the guise of religious tourism, disturbing evidence reveals how pilgrimage visas, social media influencers, and diplomatic backchannels formed the perfect infrastructure for espionage.
Indian investigators have cracked open what they claim is one of the most sophisticated ISI-backed espionage networks in recent memory, centered around Noshaba Shehzad, a Pakistani businesswoman operating a seemingly legitimate travel agency—Jaiyana Travel and Tourism. Her alias in intelligence circles is “Madam N.”
Shehzad stands accused of masterminding a covert operation designed to funnel Indian citizens, under the pretence of religious travel, into Pakistan, only to exploit them for intelligence gathering. Her alleged goal is to lay the groundwork for a sleeper cell network of up to 500 operatives planted across Indian cities, many of them unwittingly entangled.
The Influencer Trap
What seemed like simple travel arrangements were reportedly a façade for a far more nefarious objective. Investigations point to Indian social media influencers, including now-arrested Instagram personality Jyoti Malhotra, as early targets in the network. Recruited under the garb of cultural tours and promotional collaborations, these individuals were allegedly taken across the border and groomed for long-term influence operations.
Sources have stated that Shehzad often posed as a promoter of Indo-Pak cultural harmony, a strategy that disarmed her targets while she embedded them into the ISI web. It is stated that her initial goal was to gain their trust, then steer them towards data leaks, soft propaganda, and finally, hard intel.
A Diplomatic Smoke Screen
The scale of Shehzad’s reach would have been impossible without institutional support, officials say. Key Pakistani Embassy figures in Delhi—Suhail Qamar (First Secretary, Visa) and Umar Sheryar (Counsellor, Trade)—are accused of fast-tracking visas for individuals handpicked by Shehzad.
She was also reportedly in close coordination with Danish, aka Ehsan-ur-Rehman, a known ISI operative who was expelled from India in May 2025 following Malhotra’s arrest. Further complicating matters, Shehzad’s own husband is believed to be a retired civil servant of Pakistan, deepening concerns about the state-backed nature of the operation.
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Pilgrimage as Cover
Though no official tourism corridor exists between India and Pakistan, Shehzad allegedly facilitated travel for over 3,000 Indian citizens and 1,500 NRIs within six months, many under religious pretences such as Sikh and Hindu yatras. These were organized in collaboration with Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board, giving the operation legitimacy and logistical ease.
The real purpose, investigators argue, was dual: funnelling funds into anti-India propaganda and recruiting potential agents. Excess fees from these trips, often overcharged, were allegedly siphoned off to fund covert missions.
The Bigger Picture
What began as a religious bridge-building initiative soon morphed into an extensive espionage enterprise. Authorities now believe that Shehzad wasn’t just an agent, but an operator of an underground recruitment and logistics network that planted informants across Indian metros.
The investigation continues, with central agencies now probing Shehzad’s links to other Indian cities, financial transactions, and digital communications to uncover the full extent of her network. As of now, Indian authorities are preparing a dossier to be handed over to international agencies and INTERPOL, citing concerns of cross-border terrorism and espionage under the guise of civilian and religious exchanges.
About the author – Prakriti Jha is a student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, currently pursuing B.Sc. LL.B (Hons.) with a keen interest in the intersection of law and data science. She is passionate about exploring how legal frameworks adapt to the evolving challenges of technology and justice.