New Delhi: Noshaba Shehzad, a businesswoman ideantified by code name ‘Madam N’- running Jaiyana Travel and Tourism in Lahore, has been identified as a central figure in a covert operation allegedly orchestrated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), according to sources cited by NDTV. Shehzad is accused of facilitating the entry of Indian social media influencers into Pakistan under the guise of tourism, with the intent to recruit them for espionage activities.
Operating under directives from the ISI and Pakistani military, Shehzad reportedly established a network targeting Indian citizens, particularly Hindus and Sikhs, to connect them with Pakistani military and ISI officials. Her husband, a retired Pakistani civil servant, is also linked to the operation. Shehzad allegedly collaborated with ISI operative Danish, alias Ehsan-ur-Rehman, a former visa officer at the Pakistani High Commission in India, who was expelled in May following the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra.
Hyderabad Connection: In the broader context her operations involved a network that is aimed at establishing a sleeper cell of at least 500 spies across India. Hyderabad, as a major city, is suspected be part of this wider scope, though no specific incidents or arrests tied to “Madam N” are directly reported in Hyderabad so far.
Despite the absence of a formal tourist visa process for Indians, Shehzad’s sponsorship enabled the Pakistani High Commission to issue visitor visas, charging exorbitant fees from Indian pilgrims. These funds were reportedly diverted to support Pakistani propaganda efforts. Recently, Shehzad expanded her network by hiring Indian travel agents in Delhi and other cities to promote her firm on social media, further amplifying her reach.
The revelations highlight concerns over covert operations exploiting cultural and religious ties, raising questions about cross-border security and the misuse of social media influence.
