In a development that has raised alarm within India’s security circles, at least 75 Indian Army personnel stationed in Jammu and Kashmir and Mathura were contacted by operatives of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The communication was carried out using Indian SIM cards that had been illegally smuggled out of the country by a Nepali national. According to central intelligence agencies, these ISI agents reached out to the soldiers primarily through WhatsApp, exploiting India’s telecom networks to establish seemingly legitimate communication channels.

A senior official revealed, “After identifying the details (of the Army personnel), we are likely to inform their unit heads and summon them for questioning in the coming days. As of now, we do not have any substantial evidence proving their involvement in any espionage activity. But operatives based in different Pakistani cities were in touch with them.”

The startling revelation came after investigators conducted a detailed technical analysis of data recovered from at least sixteen Indian SIM cards. These cards were seized from Prabhat Kumar Chaurasiya, a resident of Birgunj, Nepal, who was arrested on August 28 by the Delhi Police Special Cell. Investigations revealed that Chaurasiya had obtained these SIM cards from Bihar and Maharashtra using his Aadhaar credentials, with a significant number registered in Maharashtra’s Latur region.

Sources stated, “After smuggling these cards from India to Kathmandu, he handed them over to his ISI handlers. They later created WhatsApp accounts with these numbers and began luring personnel in the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and Government departments to further their espionage objectives.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Kaushik said, “Out of the 16 SIM cards, 11 were being operated on WhatsApp from Lahore, Bahawalpur, and other parts of Pakistan by ISI operatives. The investigation has revealed that Chaurasiya came into contact with ISI handlers in 2024 through a Nepali intermediary. He was lured with the promise of a US visa and opportunities in journalism abroad. In return, he was tasked with supplying Indian SIM cards and gathering information related to the DRDO and Army establishments.”

Chaurasiya, who holds a degree in information technology along with a diploma in computer hardware and networking, was previously employed in the pharmaceutical sector in Pune, Latur, Solapur, and Delhi. In 2017, he founded a logistics company in Kathmandu, which eventually failed due to financial setbacks. It was after this downfall that he reportedly came into contact with Pakistan’s ISI network, marking the beginning of his involvement in cross-border espionage activities.

The case bears resemblance to a similar incident involving CRPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Moti Ram Jat, who was arrested in May for leaking sensitive information to a Pakistani Intelligence Operative. Investigations revealed that the same ISI handler was in touch with at least fifteen additional phone numbers linked to members of the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and government departments — suggesting a wider, coordinated attempt to penetrate India’s security framework.

What is the Pakistani ISI and Why It Is Concerning

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, functioning under the country’s military establishment. Established in 1948, the ISI was initially tasked with coordinating intelligence between Pakistan’s Army, Navy, and Air Force. However, over the decades, it evolved into one of the most powerful and secretive spy agencies in South Asia. The ISI operates with a dual mandate — to safeguard Pakistan’s national interests and to carry out covert operations against perceived enemies, with India being its prime focus since Partition.

The ISI is known for its extensive espionage and psychological warfare strategies, often executed through cyber infiltration, fake social media accounts, and the recruitment of informants across borders. The agency has been repeatedly accused of backing terrorism, funding insurgent groups, and engaging in hybrid warfare — tactics that blend traditional military means with cyber and psychological manipulation.

In recent years, the ISI has adapted to technological advancements by exploiting social media and communication platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook to target Indian defence personnel. Their strategy typically involves honey-trapping, phishing, or posing as journalists and job recruiters to extract classified information from unsuspecting individuals. The use of smuggled Indian SIM cards is particularly concerning, as it enables the ISI to mask its digital footprint and make it appear as though communications are originating within India.

This incident is alarming for several reasons. Firstly, it highlights the vulnerability of Indian military and security networks to digital espionage. Secondly, it shows how foreign intelligence agencies are exploiting loopholes in India’s telecom and identification systems — in this case, through the misuse of Aadhaar-linked SIM cards. Thirdly, the fact that more than 75 soldiers were approached underscores the scale of the ISI’s operations and its persistent attempts to infiltrate India’s defence establishment.

The episode serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of modern espionage, where cyber warfare and social engineering have replaced traditional spying techniques. It underlines the urgent need for tighter digital surveillance, stricter verification systems for SIM card issuance, and enhanced cybersecurity awareness among defence personnel.

The investigation into this case continues, but the larger threat it exposes is unmistakable — the persistence of the ISI in attempting to breach India’s security infrastructure, not through weapons, but through data, deception, and digital infiltration.