India Today TV has penetrated Pakistan's spying network, unravelling the scale of its recruitment methods involving Pakistani missions in India. ISI recruiters use satellite phones. Rookies taken to Pakistan on bogus passports. ISI recruiter reveals full scale of espionage

For the first time on national television, an ISI recruiter is caught on tape explaining the nuts and bolts of Pakistan's espionage operations in India.

With the ISI in top gear following revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, India Today TV has penetrated its spying network, unearthing the full scale of its recruitment methods involving Pakistani missions in multiple nations.

For the first time on national television, an ISI recruiter is caught on tape explaining the nuts and bolts of Pakistan's espionage operations in India.

Nazir Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, confessed to headhunting for the ISI.

His revelations came during a series of meetings India Today's Special Investigation Team held with him in Delhi.

Bhat elaborated upon what appeared to be an extensive recruitment process involving one-on-one interviews with Pakistani brigadiers and majors stationed in Pakistani missions across several countries, including India.

"Do you have links in the ISI?" asked India Today's undercover reporter.

"Yes, I do," Bhat replied. "In Kashmir, for instance, I say Salaam Alaikum to both the separatists and the mainstream (leaders)."

Bhat disclosed the he contacts his handlers across the border via satellite phones.

"Whenever I have to call, I use my satellite phone," he said. "And when I cross over, I meet up with them, whether it is Islamabad or Rawalpindi or in PoK."

His handlers would accord him a warm welcome in Pakistan in exchange for information about India, Bhat said.

He revealed that the ISI's recruitment process is directly supervised by senior Pakistani military officers.

"I have done ISI recruitment myself," he said. "They have spread their net far and wide."

"Are you in touch with the main recruiter in Pakistan?" the reporter asked.

"Yes. That's why I told you I'd confirm with him (about your appointment)," answered Bhat.

The ISI recruiter identified a Pakistani major as one of the main handlers for the ISI's India operations.

"What is his name?" probed the reporter.

"Major Abdullah," Bhat replied.

The rookies, he added, are introduced with the higher-ups in the ISI at different locations -- from Kathmandu, Dubai, Sri Lanka to Male.

"Who all will come to meet with the new recruits?" the reporter asked.

"They will come themselves... people of the brigadier level," Bhat said.

Some of the fresh recruits are taken to Islamabad via Dubai on bogus Pakistani passports and some to the Pakistani embassy in Kathmandu, he explained.

"Passports will not be an issue. We'll go there on Pakistani passports. They'll be readied in one day. That (Pakistani) passport will be left there (in Dubai) itself. You return to India on the Indian passport. Your Indian passport should have no Pakistani stamps. Else, it will be a problem," Bhat added. "I'd get all this done."

Meetings can also be held with ISI superiors at the Pakistani embassy in Kathmandu, according to the recruiter.

If Bhat is to be believed, similar interactions take place with Pakistani diplomats at popular dargahs in Delhi.

"Delhi is the best place," he remarked. "We'll get the second-in-command to the ambassador (High Commissioner for the meetings)). Either it will be a deputy or a military attache, whoever is available," he claimed. "Basically, he's the main person, the guiding force."

Experts Quotes

Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation

"This is something the intelligence agencies have always suspected but to see it as starkly as India Today is showing, I would say that it's a media coup, I would like to congratulate India Today for this expose"

"The Pakistani establishment is in sheer desperation post August five situation in Kashmir"

G Parthasarthi, former High Commissioner of India to Pakistan

"This is a typical modus operandi of ISI operations, earlier there was an instance where a deputy high-commissioner of Pakistan was involved in paying off a Hurriyat leader from Kashmir. It is also established that the hijackers of IC 814 came through Kathmandu route"

Amit Malviya, BJP spokesperson

"This investigation has brought out the nefarious designs of Pakistani deep state and shows that the ISI is now desperate to recruit people in India, I'm quite sure that our agencies are alert and due to their effort it's not easy for them (ISI) to carry on the recruitment and that's why they are being caught"