NEW DELHI: Investigators probing the recent cases of espionage have identified a former sub-inspector of Pakistan Police as a key handler in the cross-border spy networks. The suspect, identified as Nasir, had been recruited by ISI a few years ago after which he voluntarily retired from service and turned a YouTuber.
Nasir and his female accomplice, Naushaba Shehzad aka Madam N, were specifically tasked by ISI to cultivate Indian influencers, sources said. The two had become a bridge between the ISI and Indian YouTubers.
"After initial onboarding, Nasir would connect Indian YouTubers visiting Pakistan with high commission official Danish and others who would then assign them espionage tasks and invite them as guests to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi," said an investigator.
Danish was expelled from India in May, after travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra was arrested by Haryana Police.
Nasir also figures in the interrogation of Jasbir Singh, another YouTuber who was arrested last week for allegedly passing on information on Indian forces' movement to ISI.
Nasir is also a property dealer based out of Faisalabad and is fond of driving SUVs. "He has a lot of followers on YouTube and he advocates for visas to Indians yearning to meet family in Pakistan through his videos. However, that is his cover to camouflaging his spying activities," said a senior investigator.
Nasir and Naushaba Shehzad, who runs a travel agency in Pakistan, facilitated visas for those who "cooperated". In lieu of visa and other facilities, including accommodation at five star hotels, the duo asked the influencers to shoot pro-Pakistan videos and upload them on YouTube to create a favourable narrative.