Pakistani Travel Agent ‘Madam N’ at Centre of Massive ISI Espionage Plot in India
Pakistani travel agent suspected of building 500-agent sleeper cell in India, using pilgrimage tours to vet and recruit Indian nationals
New Delhi – June 7, 2025: A startling espionage network allegedly orchestrated by a Lahore-based Pakistani travel agent, Noshaba Shehzad Masud — codenamed ‘Madam N’ — has triggered alarm across Indian intelligence agencies. Masud, who runs M/s Jaiyana Travel & Tourism, is accused of exploiting religious pilgrimage tours as a front to recruit Indian nationals and establish sleeper cells under the directive of Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
M/s Jaiyana Travel & Tourism
Masud’s covert operations, reportedly backed by the Pakistan Army, sought to embed at least 500 ISI assets within India, primarily through cultural infiltration and narrative manipulation among Indian influencers, religious pilgrims, and professionals.
Religious Tourism as a Cover for Espionage
Operating under the guise of promoting religious harmony, Masud facilitated pilgrimage packages for Sikh and Hindu devotees to sacred sites in Pakistan. While the tours appeared legitimate, intelligence agencies allege they were meticulously crafted to vet potential recruits, spread pro-Pakistan narratives, and gather sensitive information about Indian society.
Her travel agency had exclusive control over Sikh and Hindu pilgrimage circuits in Pakistan — reportedly sanctioned by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). Despite the absence of a formal tourism agreement between India and Pakistan, Masud charged exorbitant fees and successfully targeted 4,500 Indian nationals within six months, including doctors, TikTok influencers, and social media personalities.
Social Media Influencers Linked to Espionage Ring
Masud’s operation came under the scanner following the interrogation of Indian nationals arrested across Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. Several of these individuals were social media influencers who admitted to being approached or influenced by networks tied to Masud’s agency.
According to intelligence sources, her team vetted recruits based on their social reach, ideology, and vulnerabilities. Some were lured with promises of money, fame, or foreign exposure, while others were subtly pushed toward pro-ISI propaganda under the pretext of cross-border cultural understanding.
Visa Scam With Diplomatic Backing
What has further alarmed Indian authorities is Masud’s alleged access to senior Pakistani diplomats at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Sources claim she worked closely with First Secretary (Visa) Suhail Qamar and Trade Counsellor Umar Sheryar, ensuring that every invite issued through her agency received 100% visa clearance — a rate unparalleled and highly suspicious.
This diplomatic backdoor essentially gave Masud unchecked power to bring hundreds of Indian citizens into Pakistan without standard scrutiny, enabling deeper infiltration and the potential for intelligence exploitation.
ISI’s Broader Strategy: Sleeper Cells and Narrative Warfare
Masud’s plan, intelligence officials suggest, was not just limited to surveillance or recruitment. She reportedly aimed to plant sleeper cells across major Indian cities, with operatives embedded in civil society, media, and political groups. These individuals could be activated during geopolitical crises to cause disruption or influence public opinion.
Investigators also suspect that funds generated from these high-priced tours may have been redirected to finance ISI-linked strategic operations, including disinformation campaigns and covert subversion.
Ongoing Investigations: Network Still Active?
Agencies are now investigating the extent of Masud’s network within India. Reports suggest her agency has agents operating in Delhi and other metro cities, promoting tours and seeking new recruits. It remains unclear how many Indians have already been compromised, or whether embedded agents are currently active.
Officials are also probing the role of Masud’s husband, a retired Pakistani bureaucrat, in the broader scheme, alongside efforts to map financial trails, digital footprints, and communication records.
India Responds with Heightened Surveillance
In response to the revelations, Indian security agencies have:
- Tightened scrutiny of visa processes involving religious tourism.
- Initiated a re-verification of individuals who have travelled via Masud’s agency.
- Increased monitoring of social media influencers and micro-celebrities with ties to cross-border entities.
The incident has sparked calls for stronger Indo-Pak intelligence protocols, particularly in the realm of visa diplomacy and cross-border religious circuits, which remain vulnerable to misuse.