Mint Explainer: What reports about Indian espionage abroad mean for New Delhi
Mint takes a closer look at these revelations and their effect on India. Earlier this week the Washington Post published a report providing new details on the Pannun assassination attempt in 2023. Citing unnamed security officials, the report said Vikram Yadav, a RAW official, was responsible for handling the operation to assassinate the Sikh separatist leader on US soil.
It said several US government agencies believe that senior officials including former RAW chief Samant Goel and incumbent National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had knowledge of the operation. Just days later, Australia’s ABC News reported that RAW officials were expelled from that country for espionage in 2020. India swiftly rejected the Washington Post report.
“The report in question makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter," said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson for the ministry of external affairs. The US government has said little on the matter. "We continue to expect accountability from the government of India based on the results of the Indian inquiry committee's work, and we are regularly working with them and enquiring for additional updates," said a State Department spokesperson.
The Australian government said it does not to comment on intelligence matters. These reports have revealed details about Indians security agencies that New Delhi would have rather have dealt with behind closed doors. According to some, these reports about Indian espionage, particularly assassination plots, have led to a curtailed access for Indian intelligence agencies in a number of Western nations.
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