In the dusty, claustrophobic lanes of Akhtar Colony, Karachi, a middle-aged man sands wood. To his neighbours, he is Zahid, the humble furniture shop owner who makes excellent chai. To Indian Intelligence, he is Zahoor Mistry, code name 'Bhola'—the butcher who hijacked Flight IC-814 and murdered a newlywed on the tarmac in 1999.

This episode peels back the layers of a seven-year surveillance operation unlike any other. Forget Hollywood chases; this is the slow, suffocating grid of real espionage. It is a world of "invisible armies"—beggars, chai-wallahs, and phone credit sellers who watch without being seen. It is about the patience to wait for a digital slip-up, the art of social engineering, and the cold calculus of a "Checkmate" strategy.

A Note on the Story: This narrative is a blend of historical fact and dramatic fiction. While inspired by true events and real intelligence tradecraft, certain characters, conversations, and operational details have been fictionalised for dramatic purposes.

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