Indian intelligence agencies have reportedly thwarted a significant attempt by Pakistan's ISI to orchestrate a terrorist strike in the national capital. Two suspects, including Ansarul Miya Ansari, a Pakistani asset allegedly sent to extract sensitive military information, have been arrested.

As per a TOI report, the sting began in January after officials received a lead suggesting an ISI spy would soon enter India via Nepal. The agent's objective was to collect classified documents, photographs, and geolocation data related to Indian military installations.

Intel teams learned that an attack in Delhi was in early planning stages, with the stolen intelligence expected to aid the plot. It wasn't until mid-February, however, that investigators caught a break. On February 15, Ansari was apprehended in central Delhi with military-related documents in his possession just as he was about to exit India using the same Nepal route.

"This was a high-stakes operation where our team stayed one step ahead throughout," the TOI report said, citing a source. "Our men were making efforts to collect information about Pak-backed terror outfits active in different parts of India and sleeper cells providing logistic support to them."

ISI Officers, High Commission Links Under Scanner

Investigators suspect that ISI officers Muzammil and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, both reportedly linked to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, were orchestrating efforts to engage Indian YouTubers and influencers as part of a broader disinformation and espionage campaign.

Following Ansari's arrest, police registered a case under the Official Secrets Act. His alleged accomplice, Akhlaque Azam of Ranchi, was picked up in March for offering logistical support. Their mobile devices reportedly held damning exchanges with handlers in Pakistan, hinting at a deeper conspiracy still under investigation.

A deeper investigation into Ansari's background painted the picture of a man radicalised far from Indian borders. Originally from Nepal, Ansari had worked as a taxi driver in Qatar since 2008. It was there, according to interrogation records, that he was first approached by ISI agents.

"In June 2024, he visited Pakistan for a month, where he was introduced to high-ranking officials of the Pakistani Army and radicalised by discussing issues like the Babri Masjid demolition and the implementation of CAA/NRC in India. Ansari was also trained in espionage and tasked with procuring secret documents from Delhi," the court filing noted.