It must be quite an adrenaline pumping occupation, working for the
Research & Analysis Wing or RAW.
Undercover operations, being sent to different countries all across the planet, the cool gadgets, the wine, the women. Not to forget, the chase. But do you know how much of it actually holds true? Do movies like the Bourne series, the Mission Impossible series, or the iconic James Bond actually depict intelligence agencies accurately? These facts on RAW, will help us find out.
Undercover operations, being sent to different countries all across the planet, the cool gadgets, the wine, the women. Not to forget, the chase. But do you know how much of it actually holds true? Do movies like the Bourne series, the Mission Impossible series, or the iconic James Bond actually depict intelligence agencies accurately? These facts on RAW, will help us find out.
1. RAW’s motto is ‘धर्मो रक्षति रक्षित:’, which basically translates
to he who does not observe Dharma is destroyed, while he who follows it
meticulously is protected. Dharma, in this context, stands for the
nation.
2. RAW came into being on September 21st, 1968, after the Sino-Indian
war of 1962 and the India-Pakistan war of 1965, which exposed gaps in
intelligence gathering undertaken by the Intelligence Bureau (which,
until then, handled both domestic and foreign intelligence). Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi, and her government, felt the need for an agency
that would raise an alarm, and protect India before it went to war, or
was hit by a terror attack. This agency would counter, or tackle them
with whatever step they deemed necessary. RAW's first director was
Rameshwar Nath Kao.
3. RAW officials are sent to various places across the country and
the world for rigorous training, including countries like United States,
United Kingdom and Israel. Trainees receive an exhaustive training in
the art of self-defence, mainly Krav Maga, and the use of technical
espionage devices.
4. In 1984, in a very important call to the Indian military, RAW
informed that Pakistan's operation 'Ababeel' was planning to capture the
Saltoro ridge in Siachen. Thanks to the timely tip, the Indian army was
able to launch operation 'Meghdoot', which forced the Pakistan army to
retreat even before they could enter the territory.
5. Initially, RAW used to hire people only from IB (Intelligence
Bureau), Indian police services, and Indian military or revenue
departments. However, being recruited in the Research and Analysis Wing
now is comparatively a lot simpler than before. They have even started
picking up students from universities.
6. RAW was successful in tapping the telephonic conversation that
took place between then Pakistan army chief, Parvez Musharraf, and his
chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Aziz, which confirmed Pakistan’s
involvement in the Kargil incursion.
7. RAW, at any given point of time, is not answerable to the
parliament of India on any issue. This same provision keeps it out of
reach of the Right To Information (RTI) act.
8. In fact, RAW is only answerable to the Prime Minister of the
country, and the Joint Intelligence Committee. The head of RAW is called
the "Secretary"(research) in the cabinet secretariat. The current chief
of RAW is Rajinder Khanna.
9. Training for RAW generally lasts for a couple of years. There's a basic training, and there's an advanced training.
The basic training generally lasts no longer than 10 days where the
trainees are familiarised with the real world of intelligence and
espionage (all that the movies tell us is absolute bull). Financial and
economic analysis, space technology, information security, energy
security and scientific knowledge is given to the trainees. The recruit
is made to specialise in a foreign language and are introduced to geo
strategic analysis. Case studies of other agencies like CIA, KGB, ISI,
Mossad and MI6 are presented for study. The inductee is also taught that
intelligence organisations do not identify who is a friend and who is a
foe; the country's foreign policy does.
After completing 'Basic Training', the recruit is sent to a Field
Intelligence Bureau (FIB). His/her training here lasts for 1–2 years
where they are given given firsthand experience of what it was to be out
in the figurative cold, conducting clandestine operations. During night
exercises under realistic conditions, he/she is taught infiltration and
ex-filtration. They are also taught how to avoid capture and if caught,
how to face interrogation. He/she learns the art of reconnoitre, making
contacts, and the numerous skills of operating an intelligence mission.
At the end of the field training, the new recruit is brought back to
the school for final polishing.
10. RAW once beat ISI at their own game.
An Indian agent of RAW, Hashum Qureshi in Srinagar was working in
league with the BSF. In Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, a Pakistan-sponsored
terrorist organisation, launched the Al-Fatah organisation for
liberation of J&K from India. 36 of these members were arrested by
J&K Police with the help of Indian Intelligence Agencies. In order
to get more inside information, RAW decided to infiltrate Qureshi into
this organization as he was well aware of the terrain of POK.
But he was won over by the Pakistani Intelligence, the ISI. There, he
was given training to hijack a plane by a former Pakistani pilot. When
he was sent back to India, the BSF arrested him and he cracked upon
interrogation. The plan was to hijack the plane which would be piloted
by Rajiv Gandhi, son of Mrs. Indira Gandhi then Prime Minister of India.
When this startling disclosure was reported to the head of BSF and RAW,
India decided to beat Pakistan at their own game!
RAW and BSF persuaded Qureshi to work for them in order to save him
from execution by the Indian authorities. According to the plan, Qureshi
would hijack an Indian Airlines aircraft flying from Srinagar to
Lahore. In return, he would demand the release of 36 members of the
Al-Fatah who were in jail in India. A Fokker Friendship aircraft, Ganga,
which was retired from Indian Airlines was inducted for this operation.
The plane was hijacked and he was allowed a toy pistol and a fake
grenade inside the plane. Pakistani authorities at Lahore allowed the
plane to land when there were informed that it had been hijacked by
National Liberation Front of POK. All India Radio soon made the
broadcast of this hijack. The whole world, by now, was informed that the
Pakistani government was behind this hijack. He demanded (as planned)
the release of 36 Al-Fatah members in the custody of India, which India
declined. Qureshi was given political asylum and hailed as a freedom
fighter in Pakistan. He spoke to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Later the
passengers of the plane came by road to India and the plane was burned
by Pakistan.
Why did India execute this operation?
The Indian government banned all the flights of Pakistan flying over
our territory and it exposed that Pakistani state openly and actively
supporting terrorists. Pakistan was trying to curb the civil unrest in
East Pakistan by using civil flights to send resources. The shortest air
route between east and west Pakistan was from Indian Air Space. Any
other air route without using India air space was at least 3 times
longer and time/fuel consuming. Pakistan had to go around India, via Sri
Lanka. The hijacking greatly slowed down the arrival of Pakistani Army
through air. This was a master stroke by RAW during the 1971 war for
liberation of Bangladesh by India.
11. Amalgamation of Sikkim
Bordered by Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and West Bengal in the Eastern
Himalayas, Sikkim was ruled by a Maharaja right from Indian
Independence. The Indian Government had recognised the title of Chogyal
(Dharma Raja) for the Maharaja of Sikkim. In 1972, RAW was authorised by
Indira Gandhi to install a pro-Indian democratic government there. In
less than three years, Sikkim became the 22nd State of the Indian Union,
on April 26, 1975. Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa was the first
democratic chief minister of Sikkim.
