Indian authorities have launched an investigation into the suspected involvement of Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in the abduction of three Indian nationals in Iran. According to a report by The Economic Times, the inquiry began after the victims’ families received phone calls from a Pakistani number.
Missing men identified from Punjab
The three missing Indians hail from Punjab and have been identified as Hushanpreet Singh from Sangrur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar, and Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur. The trio reportedly went missing in Iran on May 1 after arriving in Tehran.
Sources cited in The Economic Times believe that the ISI may be attempting to frame the Indian nationals for alleged espionage activities in Pakistan. Indian authorities are working to trace them “urgently.”
Indian embassy responds
The Indian embassy in Tehran has formally addressed the issue and issued a statement:
“Family members of three Indian citizens have informed the Embassy of India that their relatives are missing after having travelled to Iran. The embassy has strongly taken up this matter with the Iranian authorities and requested that the missing Indians be urgently traced and their safety should be ensured.”
The embassy assured that it is in regular contact with the families and is keeping them updated on efforts being made to locate the missing individuals.
Agent lured victims with false promise
According to The Financial Express, the three men were allegedly misled by a travel agent based in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, who promised to help them reach Australia through a route that included Dubai and Iran. The agent has since gone missing and remains untraceable.
Second such case in a year
Notably, this incident marks the second time within a year that Indian nationals have disappeared in Iran under suspicious circumstances. As a result, Iranian authorities have repeatedly advised Indian citizens to remain cautious and, more importantly, avoid falling victim to trafficking networks or unregistered agents while travelling abroad.
