Pathankot: Indian security agencies have uncovered a disturbing new dimension of espionage involving teenagers, with Pakistan’s intelligence apparatus allegedly targeting minors for spying activities. Officials say more than 37 minors are currently under surveillance after investigations revealed they were manipulated and recruited online by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

According to a senior officer quoted by NDTV, the identified minors include 12 from Punjab and Haryana and 25 from Jammu and Kashmir. All are between 14 and 17 years old. Investigators believe these teenagers were systematically groomed and exploited by the ISI, which is widely regarded as a central pillar of Pakistan’s deep state and has long been accused of backing terror groups hostile to India.

The network came to light following the detention of a 15-year-old boy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district earlier this week. Intelligence agencies had flagged his suspected links with handlers operating from Pakistan. A forensic examination of his mobile phone confirmed direct contact with front organisations connected to terror outfits as well as ISI-linked operatives.

Daljinder Singh Dhillon, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Pathankot, said the teenager had been lured by Pakistan-based agencies and was acting on their instructions. The boy was made to record videos and capture images of sensitive Indian security installations, the SSP said.

Investigators discovered that the boy’s phone had been compromised after he clicked on a malicious link. The device was subsequently cloned, allowing his handlers to monitor his movements in real time and remotely access stored content. “This clearly demonstrates the technical sophistication of ISI’s methods,” SSP Dhillon added.

Further probing revealed a wider online recruitment operation, with multiple minors being contacted through unconventional digital platforms. These teenagers were allegedly indoctrinated and tasked with activities such as photographing defence facilities, tracking the movement of security convoys, and providing logistical assistance to terror groups.

Warning that this represents a new and dangerous front in espionage, SSP Dhillon said law enforcement agencies are working to identify vulnerable youths and intervene before they are drawn deeper into such activities. He stressed that timely action in this case may have prevented the teenager from being pushed into far more serious offences.

The officer also urged parents to closely monitor their children’s online behaviour. In this instance, the apprehended boy had reportedly stopped attending school without his mother’s awareness.

The emergence of this teenage spy network follows the recent exposure of a white-collar terror module, in which medical professionals were allegedly recruited by the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group to plan multiple attacks in India.