Declassified Documentations Reveal CIA's India Operations
Recently declassified documents pertaining to President John F. Kennedy's assassination have revealed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) conducted clandestine operations involving the establishment of secret bases in various international locations, including India. These operations were not isolated incidents but part of a broader global strategy. The declassified documents not only confirm the existence of these secret bases but also provide a glimpse into the complex web of international relations and intelligence activities that characterized the Cold War era and beyond.
JFK Files Reveal Secret CIA Bases
Declassified documents associated with the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy have brought to light that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) maintained covert facilities in several locations, New Delhi and Kolkata in India. These records, accessible through the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, provide insights into the agency's clandestine operations in India and across the globe.
The CIA’s New York division managed secret bases in locations such as New Delhi and Kolkata, Rawalpindi, Colombo, Tehran, Seoul, and Tokyo. Some of these sites have faced legal scrutiny, with accusations that individuals were detained without formal charges or due process. The U.S. National Archives recently made approximately 2,200 previously classified documents public, as part of a more extensive release of over six million pages of records, photographs, and other materials related to the Kennedy assassination, the majority of which had already been available to the public.
These secret CIA facilities often referred to as “black sites,” have historically been utilised for intelligence activities, surveillances, espionage, and in certain instances, detention and interrogation of suspected terrorists. The agency has a long-established history of operating such bases worldwide, including in locations such as Ukraine.
India's Long-Standing Relationship with the CIA
India and CIA share a history of engagement, particularly during the Cold War period. In 2013, a declassified document revealed that India permitted the U.S. to utilise the Charbatia airbase in Odisha for refueling CIA-operated U-2 spy planes used for surveillance missions over Chinese territory in 1962.
Following independence, and in light of emerging geopolitical challenges, India sought assistance from the U.S. to develop its intelligence capabilities. In 1949, T.G. Sanjeevi, the director of India’s Intelligence Bureau, collaborated with the CIA to monitor Communist China. Following China’s annexation of Tibet in 1950, India, with support from CIA aided Tibetan resistance fighters.
The CIA also played a crucial role in facilitating Dalai Lama’s escape to India in 1959. After the 1962 border conflict with China, the agency provided further intelligence support, including the establishment of a secret military base in Charbatia, Odisha, for U-2 reconnaissance flights over Chinese territory.
Cold War Espionage:
During the Cold War, India was a pivotal battleground for American and Soviet Union intelligence agencies, each vying for influence over the world's largest democracy by infiltrating its political, military, and media spheres. This struggle had quite an impact for shaping global geopolitics. The CIA supported Indian intelligence and interfered in domestic politics, while the KGB infiltrated Indian politics using tactics like honey traps and financial backing. This Cold War espionage battle in India reflected to the lengths superpowers could go to secure strategic global influence.
India as a Battleground
This year, global concerns about espionage have been elevated, particularly after Canada accused India of involvement in an assassination. This situation has spotlighted India’s extensive intelligence operations in countries such as the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Germany. However, during the Cold War, India itself was the scene of a covert war between the United States of America and Russia, both seeking to exert political influence.
The Cold War was a period of intense tension between the capitalist United States and the Communist Soviet Union. Both superpowers were keen to secure the allegiance of newly independent India, a significant voice among developing nations. India's alignment was considered crucial, with the potential to shift the global balance of power. This led to a complex web of espionage and intrigue, with both nations deploying their intelligence agencies to sway India.
America's Espionage Tactics in India
After independence, India sought America's assistance to develop its intelligence framework. In 1949, T.G. Sanjeevi, head of India’s Intelligence Bureau, collaborated with the CIA, focusing on monitoring Communist China. With India's permission, the CIA supported Tibetan resistance fighters after China took over Tibet in 1950. The agency also played a role in the Dalai Lama's escape to India in 1959 and continued to support India after the 1962 India-China war. This support included the establishment of a secret base in Charbatia, Odisha, for U2 spy plane flights over China.
However, the CIA's influence in India expanded to the point of interfering in domestic politics. Scholar Paul McGarr notes that the CIA provided financial support to the Congress Party, contributing to the collapse of Kerala's Communist government in 1959. The agency also infiltrated Indian organizations and media to propagate a pro-American message.
Soviet Russia's Counter-Espionage
While the CIA established an early presence, the KGB quickly established its presence in India. Soviet intelligence operations commenced with the infiltration of the Indian Embassy in Moscow, where agents employed "honey traps" to compromise Indian diplomats. Defector Vassili Mitrokhin revealed that the Soviets gained access to classified Indian diplomatic communications.
By the 1960s, amidst a climate of political instability and economic challenges, the Soviet Union had established a substantial presence in Indian politics. The KGB channeled significant financial support, estimated in millions of rubles, to both the Congress Party and Communist Parties to bolster their influence. Figures such as Lalit Narayan Mishra, a close aide to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, are alleged to have secretly collaborated with the KGB, reportedly receiving funds for his political activities and campaigns, highlighting the deep penetration of Soviet intelligence within the Indian government.
As India’s relationship with the U.S. strained after the 1965 India-Pakistan war, during which America halted aid, Indira Gandhi’s government leaned towards the Soviet Union. The KGB capitalised on this opportunity to strengthen its position, funding Congress and leftist politicians in the 1967 elections. They also manipulated Indian media, disseminating negative narratives about the CIA, including unsubstantiated claims about its involvement in election rigging and assassinations.
The Fallout:
These Cold War espionage activities significantly damaged India-US relations. The revelation of CIA interference provoked public anger and an official inquiry. In contrast, India did not take strong action against the Soviets, valuing Russia’s geopolitical support.
The espionage battle peaked in the 1980s. Declassified CIA documents indicated that Soviet intelligence operatives bribed Indian journalists to sway public opinion against America. Indira Gandhi frequently attributed national crises to "foreign elements," primarily targeting the CIA, which further strained India-US ties.
This espionage battle in India illustrates the lengths to which nations will go to protect their interests. As India confronts contemporary espionage issues, the Cold War legacy serves as a reminder of the complex world of espionage and its enduring impact on international relations.
These revelations regarding secret CIA bases and Cold War espionage in India serve as a reminder that even seemingly stable international relationships may encompass concealed layers of covert operations and geopolitical maneuvering. Understanding this history is crucial for navigating current international relations and ensuring a secured future.
