ISI Spy Ring Planning Terror Attack in Delhi Dismantled; 2 Arrested

Intelligence agencies successfully dismantled a high-stakes espionage ring orchestrated by Pakistan’s ISI aimed at carrying out a terrorist attack in Delhi. The operation, spanning three months, was meticulously planned and resulted in the arrest of two highly trained operatives, including Ansarul Miya Ansari, a Pakistani agent tasked with gathering sensitive information on the Indian armed forces. Sources revealed that the probe also implicated some staff members of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. ISI officers Muzammil and Ehsan-ur-Rahim (also known as Danish) were involved in recruiting Indian YouTubers and influencers to aid their plans.

The operation began following a vague tip-off in January that an ISI spy had been dispatched to collect sensitive documents, pictures, and Google map coordinates, with plans to arrive in Delhi via Nepal. Further investigation uncovered that a terror attack was being planned using classified military information. Despite the urgency, intelligence officials waited until mid-February for conclusive evidence. The ISI agent had arrived in Delhi, collected confidential military documents, and on February 15, Ansari was arrested in central Delhi while attempting to return to Pakistan via Nepal.

The operation was described as a masterclass in espionage tactics, with Indian intelligence staying ahead of the spies at every stage. Efforts focused on gathering intelligence about Pakistan-backed terror groups operating in India and sleeper cells providing logistical support. Following a series of grenade attacks outside police establishments in Punjab by the ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), the agency suspected a broader conspiracy to destabilize public safety in northwestern India. Proactive steps were taken to prevent any planned terror attacks in the Delhi-NCR region.

Ansari was handed over to the police and charged with possessing and attempting to supply classified Indian military documents to Pakistani handlers. An FIR was registered under the Official Secrets Act. Further investigation revealed the involvement of Akhlaque Azam, a Ranchi resident who provided logistical support to Ansari. Both suspects maintained constant communication with their Pakistani handlers, and mobile device analysis uncovered suspicious conversations indicating a larger conspiracy. A chargesheet has been filed against them as investigations continue to identify more conspirators.

Ansari’s background revealed a complex story of deceit and radicalization. During interrogation, he admitted he originally hailed from Nepal but had been living and working as a taxi driver in Qatar since 2008, where he was recruited by an ISI operative. Initially motivated by money, he was later brainwashed with ideological propaganda about a ‘bigger cause.’ In June 2024, Ansari visited Pakistan, where he met high-ranking military officials in Rawalpindi and was further radicalized through discussions about issues like the Babri Masjid demolition and India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). He was trained in espionage and tasked with procuring secret documents from Delhi.

The trial of the accused is set to begin soon after the court accepted the chargesheet. Both men are lodged in the high-security wing of Tihar Jail, where strict surveillance ensures they cannot influence other inmates. Officials have stated that the intelligence agencies remain on high alert to prevent any threats to national security. While espionage cases often resemble a cat-and-mouse game, Indian agencies are determined to maintain control and protect the country from such threats.