Key Points
- Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated after the deadly 2025 Pahalgam attack, leading to increased security concerns.
- Pakistani intelligence agencies are systematically using “honeytrap” tactics to extract sensitive information from Indian military and defense personnel.
- Recent arrests in Punjab, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and other regions highlight a surge in honeytrap espionage cases targeting both military and civilian employees.
- Social media platforms are the primary hunting ground for ISI operatives, who use fake profiles and emotional manipulation to lure targets.
- Indian intelligence agencies have heightened surveillance and countermeasures, including deploying AI tools to detect and prevent honeytrap attempts.
New Delhi: The aftermath of the 2025 Pahalgam attack, which claimed 28 lives in Jammu and Kashmir, has pushed India-Pakistan relations to a critical point, with both sides ramping up security measures and diplomatic standoffs. In this volatile climate, intelligence gathering becomes crucial, and one of the most insidious tools in the espionage arsenal is the “honeytrap.”
What Is a Honeytrap and Why Is It So Dangerous?
A honeytrap involves operatives-often posing as attractive women-using emotional manipulation, seduction, and digital intimacy to lure targets into sharing sensitive information. The ISI, Pakistan’s intelligence agency, has refined this tactic, exploiting social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram to reach Indian military and defense personnel.
Recent Cases: The Digital Web Tightens
- Punjab Cobbler Arrested: In April 2025, a cobbler working in Bathinda Cantonment was arrested for allegedly sharing photographs and information about the military area with Pakistani women online. This incident triggered heightened alertness within the Army’s intelligence wing.
- Rajasthan Army Jawan Case: Pradeep Kumar, an Army jawan from Uttarakhand posted in Jodhpur, fell victim to a honeytrap in 2022. He was lured by a woman posing as a military officer, who sent him videos, made promises of marriage, and extracted confidential documents and images.
- Naval Espionage in Karnataka: In February 2025, the NIA arrested three individuals in Karnataka and Kerala for leaking classified information about the Karwar and Kochi naval bases. These men were honeytrapped by ISI agents on social media, receiving money in exchange for sensitive details about naval operations.
- Civilian and Scientist Targets: The honeytrap net has also ensnared railway employees, DRDO scientists, and embassy staff. In one case, a DRDO scientist leaked missile secrets after being seduced online by a fake profile. Another security assistant at the Indian Embassy in Moscow was paid Rs 30 lakh for classified documents after being approached by an ISI agent posing as a Canadian researcher.
The Modus Operandi: How ISI Honeytraps Work
- Initial Contact: Often begins with a missed call, friend request, or message on social media.
- Building Trust: The operative claims to have a military or official background and gradually develops an emotional or romantic relationship through frequent chats, video calls, and sharing of personal stories.
- Emotional Manipulation: The target is seduced with flirtatious messages, photos, and sometimes promises of marriage or financial rewards.
- Extraction of Information: Once trust is established, the operative requests confidential documents, photos, or details about military movements, often under the guise of needing help or sharing professional interests.
- Blackmail and Coercion: In some cases, compromising material is used to blackmail the target for further information.
The Growing Threat and India’s Response
The surge in honeytrap cases has put Indian intelligence agencies on high alert. The Army and other defense establishments are now deploying artificial intelligence tools to simulate honeytrap scenarios and train personnel to recognize and avoid such traps[11]. Cyber-specialists are being recruited, and awareness campaigns are underway to educate soldiers and officials about the risks of online interactions with unknown contacts.
As India and Pakistan navigate a period of heightened tension after the Pahalgam massacre, the threat of honeytrap espionage looms large. The ISI’s sophisticated use of digital platforms to lure and compromise Indian personnel underscores the need for constant vigilance, robust counterintelligence, and digital literacy within the armed forces and defense community. The battle for national security is no longer just on the borders-it’s also being fought in the digital domain.
