New Delhi– In a significant breakthrough in India’s ongoing fight against cross-border espionage and terror infiltration, the Delhi Police, in coordination with central intelligence agencies, busted an ISI sleeper cell network operating across multiple states. The covert operation, conducted between January and March 2025, led to the arrest of two key agents, including a Nepali-origin operative, Ansarul Mian Ansari.
Ansari, who had previously worked as a cab driver in Qatar, was reportedly recruited by an ISI handler during his stay in the Gulf nation. Intelligence sources revealed that he was taken to Pakistan via Qatar, where he underwent formal espionage training by senior Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officers. After completing his indoctrination, he was smuggled into India through Nepal with the mission to collect classified defence data.
The Delhi Police apprehended Ansari from a hotel in the capital, as he was allegedly planning his return to Pakistan. A cache of sensitive documents related to Indian armed forces was recovered from his possession. As part of his mission, he was instructed to digitize and transmit this intelligence to Pakistan in the form of a CD. His interrogation led to the arrest of another individual in Ranchi, further unraveling the ISI sleeper cell network.
Officials confirmed that both suspects are now lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail after a chargesheet was filed earlier this month.
This domestic intelligence operation unfolded simultaneously with a nationwide crackdown on other terror-linked networks. In a related move, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) apprehended two ISIS-linked absconders, Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh and Talha Khan, from Mumbai International Airport. The duo, who had evaded authorities since 2023, were implicated in the fabrication and testing of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as part of an ISIS Pune sleeper module. Both men had active non-bailable warrants and ₹3 lakh rewards on their heads.
The recent string of arrests marks a broader intelligence-led campaign to neutralize sleeper cells across the country. This wave of counter-terrorism operations intensified in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian armed forces in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. On May 7, India conducted precision strikes on nine terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Security officials believe the exposure of the ISI sleeper cell network is also linked to attempts by Pakistan-based actors to retaliate using asymmetric warfare, including espionage, cyber infiltration, and proxy operatives within Indian borders.
Following a short-lived escalation, both countries reached a ceasefire understanding on May 10, halting military exchanges. Yet, Indian intelligence agencies remain on high alert as investigations and counter-operations continue in pursuit of hidden terror cells and foreign intelligence assets.
With national security at the forefront, these successful busts not only dismantle active threats but serve as a critical warning to foreign agencies attempting to infiltrate India through covert networks.
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