New Delhi: A businesswoman operating a travel agency in Lahore has been identified as a key figure in facilitating the entry of Indian social media influencers into Pakistan and laying the groundwork to use them for espionage, NDTV reported, citing sources.

Noshaba Shehzad, who runs the company ‘Jaiyana Travel and Tourism’, allegedly works under Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

She helped Indian influencers—including Jyoti Malhotra, who was recently arrested—and several others to travel to Pakistan, sources said.

Known within ISI circles by the codename “Madam N,” Shehzad’s name surfaced during the interrogation of detained Indian influencers, revealing her role in building a sleeper cell network of at least 500 spies capable of blending into Indian society, sources added.

Shehzad's husband is a retired Pakistani civil servant. According to sources, she received instructions from both the Pakistani Army and ISI to establish and expand this covert network in India.

She also played a role in connecting Indian influencers to officials from Pakistan’s military and the ISI, specifically targeting Hindus and Sikhs from India.

Over the last six months alone, she facilitated visits to Pakistan for nearly 3,000 Indian citizens and 1,500 non-resident Indians (NRIs).

Sources allege her access extended into the visa section of the Pakistani embassy in Delhi.

She was in regular contact with First Secretary (Visa) Suhail Qamar and Counsellor (Trade) Umar Sheryar, allowing her to arrange Pakistani visas “with a single phone call.”

She was also linked to ISI operative Danish, alias Ehsan-ur-Rehman, who served as a visa officer in the embassy and was expelled from India in May after Jyoti Malhotra’s arrest.

Although there is no formal tourism process or system to issue tourist visas to Indians, the Pakistani High Commission was granting visitor visas based on Shehzad’s sponsorship and recommendation.

Her company, which collaborates with the Evacuee Trust Property Board, is said to be the only agency organising Hindu and Sikh pilgrimages to Pakistan.

Sources said she charged exorbitant fees from Indian pilgrims and diverted the funds to support Pakistani propaganda.

Recently, she also hired Indian travel agents in Delhi and other cities to promote her firm on social media.