Inside Pakistans Dark Web Of Spies: How Honey-Traps Turned Civilians Into ‘Traitors’

New Delhi: It started quietly. A pleasant ping on Facebook. A center emoji on Instagram. An informal hi from a “pretty girl” on WhatsApp. By the time India’s intelligence businesses stuck on, the lure had already closed – drawing in civilians from cities and towns throughout northern India into probably the most brazen espionage rings in contemporary reminiscence.

In the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror assault, a frantic investigation lit up corridors of nationwide safety. Officials exposed the outlines of a sinister community. Around 30 civilians, maximum unconnected to any formal defence position, had allegedly been leaking delicate data to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). And how they have been pulled in was once much more worrying than what they gave away.

These weren’t seasoned spies. They have been YouTubers, scholars, junior govt clerks or even day-to-day salary staff. Their not unusual thread? A virtual vulnerability, both emotional or monetary, that Pakistani handlers expertly exploited.

Central businesses say the playbook was once constant. An horny lady, now and again calling herself “Nisha” or “Pooja”, would succeed in out on-line. Over weeks, now and again months, she would construct rapport, specific affection and ultimately ask for “small favours”. An image right here, a video there. Nothing critical, simply Army vehicles or a gate with a signboard. The sufferers by no means knew they have been being performed till the arrests started.

Among the ones stuck within the internet was once Ravindra Verma, a 27-year-old defence contractor from Maharashtra. Wooed via a Facebook profile that grew to become out to be pretend, he allegedly despatched over information about Indian warships.

Jasbir Singh, a YouTuber from Punjab, allegedly maintained touch with over 150 Pakistani accounts and purportedly won cash for his “content”.

A pupil named Devendra Dhillon allegedly leaked pictures from army installations after being recruited during the Kartarpur Corridor.

These weren’t remoted incidents. Intelligence assets printed that Pakistani officers running underneath diplomatic duvet in India masterminded the operation. Using encrypted apps like Telegram and custom-built tool, they coordinated an espionage community that ran underneath the radar till now.

A Spy’s Paradise?

The maximum damning revelation? Much of this community was once reportedly being run via people running underneath diplomatic immunity on the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Under the nostril of Indian government, they created a secret agent community now not via conventional espionage, however by means of smartphones and feelings.

Government insiders weren’t the one goals. Lonely scholars, cash-strapped influencersand even patriotic civilians have been allegedly manipulated into betraying their nation.

Verma allegedly leaked naval specifications by means of WhatsApp. Singh allegedly grew to become out to be a pro-Pakistan influencer with 150+ Pakistani contacts. Dhillon allegedly hared delicate defence pictures post-Kartarpur discuss with. Shakur Khan, a central authority staffer from Rajasthan, allegedly grew to become a secret agent. Mohammad Tareef (Haryana) allegedly captured Indian Air Force visuals. Armaan from Haryana allegedly despatched movies from defence expos. Shahzad from Uttar Pradesh allegedly ran a cross-border smuggling and spying operation.

Most arrests have been concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh – states with a prime collection of civilians aware of defence zones. The ISI seems to have intentionally have shyed away from the South and Northeast, focusing as a substitute on spaces with more straightforward get entry to and lesser suspicion.

This isn’t just a tale of espionage, this can be a warning call. The enemy does now not at all times knock at the entrance door. Sometimes, they slide into DMs. And in a global the place nationwide safety now rests on social media behaviour, India might want greater than firewalls and it will wish to teach its voters on virtual patriotism.

One click on, one emoji, one flirtatious chat – now and again, this is all it takes to betray a country.