Games they play
Strategic geopolitical location of India, its importance in regional and global power politics and ever increasing interest of the global players in burgeoning Indian economy have attracted attention of the major intelligence agencies–MI6/ MI5 (UK), CIA (five more US agencies), KGB and GRU (Russia), Direction Generale de la Securite Extrieure (DGSE), Secretariat general de la defense nationale (SGDN)- French, Bundesnachrictendienst (BND)-German; Guojia Anquan Bu (Guoanbu), General Staff Department-Second Department- China, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI-Pak) and DGFI (Bangladesh) etc. These agencies continue to operate unceasingly.
Two major warring Cold War-Lords, the USA and the USSR have dominated the Fourth Tier of relationship with India. The other three tiers are, strategic, diplomatic and economic/military. In fact, the CIA and the KGB have operated with impunity and had achieved greater penetration than any other foreign intelligence agency. Between 1960 and `85 the KGB and GRU achieved maximum penetration in India. The CIA and its ally agencies have achieved ascendance after Soviet Union’s collapse.
There is nothing unusual about this game and the nation should not feel outraged, though there are reasons to tighten India’s security and counterintelligence belts. Foreign intelligence agencies are supposed to operate in India to gather intelligence, modulate public opinion, create lobby in political circles and media and steal its strategic secrets. The ISI and DGFI are known to carry out proxy war, sabotage and subversion. In the same vein India is supposed to operate in its target countries. All the major countries having regional, strategic and economic interests in their respective target countries play this universal game.
Mitrokhin has opened a small snuffbox. India should not be rocked by historical truth, though the myth of Indira Gandhi acting as a Soviet agent is a blatant lie. India-Russia relationship cannot be judged by the functioning of spy agencies. India’s relationship with the USSR is strategic in nature. Indira Gandhi reinforced that relationship because of worsening Pakistani and US attitude. Her relationship with the Soviet stalwarts was not one of spy and spymaster. It was a strategic relationship that stood the test of time. India had sought strategic and tactical help from the USSR and Indira Gandhi had fortified her political position with some helps from the Communist Party aligned to the USSR.
The USSR was the fountainhead of international communist movement. The communist ideologues of yesteryears had assumed that like Islam communism had also an Ummah, which transcended national boundaries. Exporting ideology along with material support was the universal policy of international communism. Even China has supported certain groups in India and elsewhere.
The Indian communists, especially the CPM had nationalised its ideological bearings soon after the 1964 split. The Naxal movement in West Bengal was a pro-Chinese explosion against CPM, which was not inclined to lean on Beijing for support. The Naxalites killed more of CPM than Congress cadres in Bengal. The pro-Moscow CPI had also put on a ‘national pyjama.’ Soviet support to the Indian communist movement is a part of history and should be viewed through historicity of the events and not through clandestine contacts between a spy agency and a few individuals.
Support rendered by the KGB to certain Indian communist leaders and party apparatuses was an integral part of that universal policy pursed by the Soviet Union.
Congress’ relationship with the USSR was more strategic and communists’ relationship was ideological and for material support, as they received very minor success in building a strong mass base. It is again a matter of history that the Soviet Union had materially supported most of its client countries and satellite ideological units like the ones in India. This global phenomenon emerging out of COMINTERN policy of the Soviet Union should not be seen through the narrow telescope of a spy agency. This should be viewed in the light of historical development of the communist movement in India and Congress’ historical strategic relationship with the Cold War adversary of the USA.
The KGB had achieved unique success in penetrating the Indian political system, its security rings and vital spheres of defence and economic activities. The depth and extent of its penetration of the communist parties are well recorded by Indian intelligence agencies. Some segments of the Congress party were also targeted, as it was the main ruling party. Penetration of Indian public figures by the KGB, CIA, and ISI etc is well recorded by Indian agencies. The honours list is big. Mitrokhin has simply unfolded a minor view of the gravely contaminated spectrum. Revelations by the CIA and ISI would cause real tectonic tsunami, as their penetration is equally grave. Such shock treatments are necessary for the people to be educated.
Some political parties are trying to smear themselves with perfume of the Mitrokhin dirt. This is a futile exercise. The whole aspect should be judged against the spectrum of broader Indo-USSR strategic relationship. Espionage is a sleepless and ceaseless operation. This trade continues incessantly despite best smiling faces displayed by the top leaders in diplomatic conclaves. What India requires is strengthening its forward and counterintelligence capabilities, while giving less stress on serving ruling political bosses. In fact, India requires a National Intelligence Review Commission to arm its agencies with constitutional and legal protection and to firm up their efficacy by providing more resources and teeth.
July 31st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Dear Sirs,
First of all I would pay my high respect and thanks for unveiling “Open Secrets” which gives retrospection as wells as introspection to indian youth who are busy with there needing and neglecting there duties.
I know Ican’t access you but >Sir atleast you assurance matters on my despair quest after reading your book
Sir, i also read the Mitrokhiln’s-II book and with this article my apprehension was slightly faded. But with the open secrets information, I am very cautious about national security interest. I recently came across with devastaing news about RAW cheif’s blunder , malfeasance and ineptitude and the politics behind that which results the Jaipur, ahemdabad, and baglore ,surat .
Sir my quest is there is something seriously missing in our national securiry and how we are tackling on the presence of these petty delhi sultan’ ?
It seems my country , R& AW’s incessant patriotic efforts , Indian national security institute like DRDO, BARC ,ISRO are nibbling and systematically unrevealed in the hands of Sonia. She is doing how she likes?
With addition of some other same connoted referances <national security is raga muffled and it seems unscrupolous hole is made in Indian security ?
Sir a after long reading of refranced articles, every aspect and deed of Sonia’s and her life, congress party’s movement and her cout , Rajiv’s govt and her cout, and untill today’s christian plot’s against ISRo SPY case in Kerals ,and Indian Jihad movement muckraking me daily.
It seems drawing six figure salary,big flat in the city, enjoying foreign trips and perks ,nice honey is the life of common man and new young class of India? No body is concerning about this havoc
Sir I despartely needs your suggestionand comment on that what a common man can do in these quagmire?