In recent weeks, India has been actively dismantling a network of individuals allegedly involved in espionage activities linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). These actions have unfolded in the aftermath of heightened tensions and military responses, including "Operation Sindoor," launched by India following a terror attack in Pahalgam.
One of the most prominent cases involves Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber and social media influencer from Haryana, who has been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan. Malhotra, who runs a travel vlog called "Travel with JO" with a substantial following across YouTube and Instagram, is accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives. According to authorities, Malhotra was in contact with officials from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and had traveled to Pakistan multiple times.
The investigation into Malhotra's activities has revealed a broader network with links to the ISI. Law enforcement agencies are scrutinizing her connections with other social media influencers, suspecting that they may also be involved in espionage or the dissemination of pro-Pakistan narratives. Authorities believe the ISI may be using social media influencers to build narratives to confuse the public. In Malhotra's case, she had blamed lack of security for the Pahalgam attack in one of her videos.
Malhotra's arrest is part of a larger crackdown that has seen over a dozen individuals apprehended across multiple states, including Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. These individuals come from diverse backgrounds, including students, businessmen, and laborers, suggesting a widespread effort by Pakistani intelligence to recruit assets from various segments of Indian society.
The alleged spy network employed various methods to gather and transmit sensitive information, including the use of mobile apps and encrypted platforms. Some individuals are believed to have received monetary compensation for their activities. The information being sought reportedly includes details about Indian military installations, troop movements, and other security-related matters.
The recent surge in counter-espionage operations follows "Operation Sindoor," India's military response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed. The operation involved strikes on terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The arrests and investigations have raised concerns about the evolving tactics of Pakistan's ISI, which appears to be increasingly leveraging social media and online platforms to recruit informants and spread disinformation. Authorities are particularly focused on identifying and neutralizing these networks to safeguard national security.
