Key Points
- India has arrested six of its own citizens, including travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, on unproven espionage charges linked to Pakistan, sparking criticism of political overreach.
- Malhotra’s alleged crime—portraying Pakistan positively and maintaining personal connections—has ignited global concern over India’s growing intolerance toward cross-border goodwill.
- Critics say India’s use of harsh colonial-era laws to suppress cultural exchanges reflects an authoritarian trend, turning peace efforts into punishable offenses under the Modi regime.
ISLAMABAD: In the aftermath of Pakistan’s decisive Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, which exposed Indian aggression and reinforced Islamabad’s military and diplomatic resolve, India has turned its gaze inward—arresting six of its own citizens on unproven allegations of espionage for Pakistan.
Among them is a widely known travel vlogger, Jyoti Malhotra, whose only apparent crime, critics say, is promoting cross-border peace and portraying Pakistan in a positive light.
Malhotra, who hails from Haryana and runs the YouTube channel Travel with Jo, had legally visited Pakistan in 2023 on a valid visa. During her visit, she met with a staffer from the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi—a routine diplomatic interaction. That diplomat has since been declared persona non grata and expelled earlier this month, as India continues to tighten its grip on perceived dissent.
According to Indian media reports, officials allege that Malhotra continued her friendship with the Pakistani staffer and remained in contact via WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat, sharing what they claim was “sensitive information.” No concrete evidence has yet been made public. Authorities have gone further, painting her in a negative light for highlighting Pakistan’s culture and hospitality in her online content—a move that has often been taboo in India’s hyper-nationalist environment.
The matter has raised eyebrows internationally, with analysts suggesting that India’s increasingly authoritarian climate under the Modi government is fostering paranoia instead of peace. “In India today, speaking of Pakistan with empathy can be treated like treason,” noted one South Asian affairs observer. “It reflects a deep bias and shrinking tolerance for dialogue.”
Malhotra’s case has been lumped into what Indian officials are now calling a wider “espionage ring.” Others arrested include a 32-year-old widow from Punjab, accused merely of applying for a visa to Pakistan, and her friend, Banu Nasreena, also detained under unclear charges. Three more men—Yameen Mohammad, Devinder Singh Dhillon, and Arman—are being held on varying allegations, from financial links to filming sensitive zones, though again, no verified evidence has been released to the public.
India has charged the detainees under both the colonial-era Official Secrets Act of 1923 and the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—a move critics call excessive and politically motivated. The Economic Offences Wing in Hisar is handling the case, further fueling speculation about the real motives behind the arrests.
While Pakistan has yet to officially comment, global observers are watching closely, especially given the pattern of India branding cultural exchanges, personal relationships, or any pro-Pakistan expression as espionage. This heavy-handed response, they argue, not only suppresses dissent but criminalizes peace-building efforts at a time when dialogue is most needed.
