New Delhi — In a chilling revelation that underscores the growing sophistication of cross-border espionage, Indian intelligence agencies have unearthed a Pakistan-led spy network that used Indian-registered SIM cards smuggled through Nepal to target Indian Army personnel. Officials say the network attempted to lure soldiers posted in Jammu & Kashmir and Mathura into sharing sensitive information via WhatsApp.
How the Operation Worked
The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Prabhat Kumar Chaurasia (43), a resident of Birgunj, Nepal, on August 28. He allegedly smuggled Indian SIM cards across the border, later used by Pakistani ISI handlers. From his possession, 16 SIM cards were recovered—mostly registered in Bihar and Maharashtra’s Latur district.
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Sources told The Indian Express that Chaurasia handed over the SIM cards in Kathmandu, where ISI operatives activated them for espionage. Using these numbers, they created fake WhatsApp accounts and began contacting Army, paramilitary, and government employees to extract classified defense information.
The Lure of Foreign Opportunities
According to DCP (Special Cell), “Chaurasia came into contact with ISI operatives in 2024 through a Nepali intermediary. He was offered a U.S. visa and a journalism opportunity abroad in exchange for defense and DRDO-related information.”
An Educated Spy Courier
Investigators found that Chaurasia is an IT graduate with a Diploma in Computer Hardware and Networking. He previously worked in the pharmaceutical sector across Pune, Solapur, Latur, and Delhi. In 2017, he launched a logistics company in Kathmandu, which suffered heavy losses. Desperate and financially unstable, he was eventually drawn into the ISI’s espionage network.
Officials confirmed that 11 of the 16 seized SIM cards were being used from Lahore and Bahawalpur, suggesting direct Pakistani control. Although no classified leaks have yet been confirmed, 75 Indian soldiers were found to be in contact with the fake WhatsApp numbers. Their units have been alerted for internal inquiry.
Not the First Spy Network of Its Kind
This revelation follows a similar case in May 2025, when CRPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Moti Ram Jat was arrested in Delhi for leaking information to a Pakistani intelligence officer. His handler had also reached out to 15 other Indian officials.
Experts describe this trend as part of Pakistan’s evolving “hybrid espionage strategy”—a mix of cyber infiltration, psychological manipulation, and human intelligence to compromise India’s defense integrity.
Security officials have warned that Pakistan’s growing use of Indian digital infrastructure poses a serious threat to national security, emphasizing the need for stricter cyber and communication surveillance within the armed forces.
