JAISALMER: Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, is reportedly developing a new espionage network by exploiting family relationships between people living on both sides of the India-Pakistan border. Intelligence agencies have found that ISI is allegedly pressuring and intimidating relatives of families from Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer and Barmer districts who reside in Pakistan, forcing them to influence their Indian relatives into spying activities.During interrogation on Saturday, alleged spy Mushtaq Ali, who was arrested for reportedly working for Pakistan’s ISI, made several startling revelations while being taken for area verification in Jaisalmer.According to investigators, Mushtaq disclosed that he had been in direct contact for the past 24 months with his cousin Nazeer, who lives in Rahim Yar Khan district of Pakistan, and an ISI handler identified as Khalid. He claimed that both individuals gradually brainwashed him and lured him into the espionage network by offering financial incentives.Mushtaq allegedly shared videos and photographs of Border Security Force (BSF) vehicle movements and strategically important roads in the Jaisalmer sector through WhatsApp to Nazeer. In return, around ₹25,000 was reportedly transferred to his bank account and the accounts of some relatives.Investigators revealed that ISI handler Khalid specifically targeted individuals in India who have close family members living in Pakistan. Mushtaq’s maternal aunt and paternal aunt’s families are reportedly settled there.According to the interrogation, Mushtaq’s cousin Nazeer maintained regular contact with him through social media for nearly two years, allegedly influencing him with false narratives regarding the treatment of minorities in India. Once Mushtaq was fully under their influence, Nazeer reportedly connected him with ISI handler Khalid, who then began directing espionage activities in exchange for money.Investigators have also found that the payments Mushtaq received were not transferred from foreign accounts but from various bank accounts within India. Intelligence agencies are now examining the account holders’ details. Officials suspect that ISI may have local facilitators or sleeper cells operating within the country to manage the flow of funds.Mushtaq’s village, Khariya, is located close to the international border.A special police team from Jaipur, led by SHO Inspector Vinod Meena, took the accused to several locations, including roads, bridges, and military-sensitive areas where he had allegedly recorded videos.Authorities are also investigating whether local guides, shepherds, or other residents of the border region assisted Mushtaq in carrying out the espionage activities.Two suspicious phone numbers were recovered from Mushtaq’s mobile phone. According to intelligence agencies, the numbers belonged to Khalid and Nazeer Ahmed. During questioning, Mushtaq reportedly revealed that they trained him in the use of Google Maps, mobile cameras, and other applications for intelligence gathering.Mushtaq Ali’s five-day police remand is set to end on Sunday. He is scheduled to be produced before the court again on Monday, where investigators are expected to seek further directions in the case.
