Pakistani security agencies have arrested three individuals accused of conducting espionage on behalf of India’s foreign intelligence agency, Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW). The suspects belong to Narowal, Bahawalpur, and the Neelum district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, pointing to a network with a wide geographic footprint.
According to security sources, all three were involved in collecting sensitive information and passing it to foreign handlers across the border. The suspects allegedly confessed to being approached through social media platforms. They were reportedly lured with offers of money and contact with women, a tactic security analysts describe as a digital honeytrap.
Payments were made through a mix of digital channels. Sources said funds reached the suspects via mobile wallets, cryptocurrency accounts, and conventional bank transfers. The use of multiple financial channels suggests the network was designed to obscure payment trails and reduce the risk of detection.
Authorities said the suspects maintained continuous contact with individuals linked to India’s intelligence network through online communication. Cases were registered against all three under Pakistan’s Official Secrets Act, and convictions were handed down following legal proceedings.
Security authorities stressed that such operations are part of ongoing, sustained efforts to counter both internal and external threats to national security. Defence analysts cited in the report warned that foreign intelligence agencies are increasingly turning to social media to identify and exploit vulnerable individuals, using financial incentives and fabricated relationships as entry points.
The public was urged to exercise caution when interacting with unknown contacts online, particularly those offering money or relationships in early-stage digital communication.
