The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a suspected Pakistani spy, identified as Shahzad from Moradabad, for allegedly operating as an agent of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, under the cover of smuggling goods across the India-Pakistan border.
In an official statement issued on Sunday, the ATS revealed that Shahzad had been illegally transporting items such as cosmetics, clothes, spices, and more. However, this trade activity was allegedly a front for espionage and recruitment.
“Shahzad has good relations with the agents of ISI, with whom he was in constant touch. He has shared confidential information related to India’s security with the agents of ISI,” the ATS said in its release.
The arrest followed the registration of an FIR under Sections 148 and 152 at ATS, Lucknow, based on confirmed intelligence inputs. Shahzad was presented in court today, and further legal proceedings are underway.
The ATS further disclosed that Shahzad provided Indian SIM cards to ISI agents, helped fund their operations, and even facilitated travel for individuals from various parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Rampur district, to Pakistan, under the guise of smuggling. These individuals, once in Pakistan, were allegedly recruited by the ISI.
The ISI also arranged visas for these operatives, ATS sources added.
This revelation comes amid a series of high-profile espionage arrests. On Saturday, Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapoor, during a press conference, confirmed multiple arrests in districts like Panipat, Kaithal, and Hisar as part of Operation Sindoor.
“After Operation Sindoor, we increased vigilance. Based on information from central and state intelligence agencies, anti-national elements were caught in various districts,” Kapoor stated.
The arrest of Shahzad adds to the growing concerns over digital honey-traps, smuggling-based espionage, and the deepening involvement of ISI in targeting Indian citizens.
