Noshaba Shehzad (image-Instagram/noshabashehzad)
A Lahore-based businesswoman, Noshaba Shehzad, allegedly operating under Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been identified as a key player in orchestrating visits of Indian social media influencers to Pakistan with the intent of recruiting them as spies, according to an NDTV report.
Running a travel company named Jaiyana Travel and Tourism, Shehzad is believed to have facilitated trips for nearly 3,000 Indian citizens and 1,500 NRIs in the past six months alone. Among them was Jyoti Malhotra, an Indian influencer who was recently arrested on charges of espionage.
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Shehzad, codenamed “Madam N” by the ISI, is accused of laying the groundwork for a widespread sleeper cell network within India comprising at least 500 individuals trained to operate discreetly.
Shehzad maintained close ties with key Pakistani embassy officials in Delhi, including First Secretary (Visa) Suhail Qamar and Counsellor (Trade) Umar Sheryar, stated the report. Her connections allegedly enabled Pakistani visitor visas to be granted “with a single phone call”, bypassing standard procedures entirely.
Shehzad was reportedly in constant contact with Danish alias Ehsan-ur-Rehman, a Pakistani embassy visa officer expelled from India in May after the YouTuber’s arrest revealed links to ISI operations.
While Pakistan does not officially offer tourist visas to Indian nationals, sources allege that Shehzad used her influence to secure visitor visas under the pretext of religious pilgrimage, especially for Sikh and Hindu travellers. Her agency is reportedly the only one coordinating pilgrimage tours in collaboration with Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board.
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On the surface, Shehzad’s agency operated as a pilgrimage facilitator. However, officials claim she leveraged this front to recruit individuals vulnerable to manipulation, particularly Hindus and Sikhs, and channel funds into Pakistani propaganda efforts.
Reports indicate she recently expanded operations by appointing travel agents in Delhi and other Indian cities to promote her services on social media.
