Decoding the history of foreign intel ops in India

INDIA HAS A RICH TRADITION OF SPYCRAFT THAT IS OFTEN IGNORED IN THE WEST, LEADING TO A BIAS TOWARD INTELLIGENCE BEING FRAMED IN A WESTERN CONTEXT

- HT Correspondent

Over the past 12 months, tales of spies and spycraft have complicated India's relationships with key Western partners. Over the past year, both Canada and the United States have alleged that India's foreign intelligence agency was involved in a complex plot to identify and target pro-Khalistan separatists who were citizens of those countries.

In India, these allegations have, in turn, revealed deep scepticism about the actions of western spy agencies and the negative role they've played in India and across the Global South.

A new book, Spying in South Asia: Britain, the United States, and India's Secret Cold War, offers the first comprehensive history of US and UK intelligence operations in the Indian subcontinent. The author of this book, Paul McGarr, was the featured guest on last week's episode of "Grand Tamasha", a weekly podcast on Indian politics and policy co-produced by HT and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.