View source for Research and Analysis Wing

{{Short description|Indian external intelligence agency}}
{{Redirect|R&AW|other use|RAW (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = Research and Analysis Wing
| image           = <!--DO NOT PUT LOGO/EMBLEM without reading and addressing Talk:Research_and_Analysis_Wing#Regarding_R&AW's_logo/seal/emblem|-->
| motto           = {{transliteration|sa|ISO|[[Dharma|Dharmō]] [[Raksha (Vedic)|Rakṣati Rakṣitaḥ]]}} {{translation|"''[[Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah|Dharma protects, When it is protected''"]]}}<ref name="NewIdea"/>
| seal            = <!--DO NOT PUT MOTTO without reading and addressing Talk:Research_and_Analysis_Wing#Motto-->
| seal_size       = 
| seal_caption    = [[Insignia]] of the Research and Analysis Wing
| image_caption   = Headquarters of the Research and Analysis Wing in [[New Delhi]].
| formed          = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1968|9|21}}
| headquarters    = CGO Complex, [[New Delhi]], [[Delhi]], India
| budget          = Classified
| employees       = Classified
| chief1_name     = [[Parag Jain]]
| chief1_position = [[Secretary to Government of India|Secretary]] (R)
| parent_agency   = 
| child1_agency   = [[Electronics and Technical Services|Electronics and Technical Services (ETS)]]
| child2_agency   = [[Aviation Research Centre]]
| child3_agency   = [[Special Group (India)|Special Group]]
| child4_agency   = 
| child5_agency   = Radio Research Centre
| child6_agency   = 
| logo            = RAW India.jpg
| jurisdiction    = 
| chief2_name     = 
| chief2_position = 
| parent_department = [[Cabinet Secretariat (India)|Cabinet Secretariat]]
| website         = 
| minister1_name  = [[Narendra Modi]]
| minister1_pfo   = [[Prime Minister of India]]
| type            = 
}}
<!--DO NOT PUT LOGO/EMBLEM without reading and addressing Talk:Research_and_Analysis_Wing#Regarding_R&AW's_logo/seal/emblem|-->

{{Politics of India}}
The '''Research and Analysis Wing''' ('''R&AW''') is the [[intelligence agency|foreign intelligence agency]] of the [[India|Republic of India]]. The agency's primary function is gathering foreign [[intelligence (information gathering)|intelligence]], [[counter-terrorism]], [[counter-proliferation]], advising Indian policymakers, and advancing India's foreign strategic interests.<ref name="FAsummary">{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5211/is_2004/ai_n19126352/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306003114/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5211/is_2004/ai_n19126352/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2010 |title=B-Net:Reference Publications:India, Intelligence and Security:Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security (2004)|publisher=Findarticles.com |date=2 June 2009 |access-date=11 October 2009}}</ref><ref name="Federation of American Scientists">{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/irp/world/india/raw/index.html |title=Federation of American Scientists |publisher=Fas.org |access-date=11 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203070530/http://fas.org/irp/world/india/raw/index.html |archive-date= 3 December 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref> It is also involved in the security of [[India and weapons of mass destruction|India's nuclear programme]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfr.org/india/raw-indias-external-intelligence-agency/p17707 |title=RAW: India's External Intelligence Agency |publisher=Council on Foreign Relations |access-date=2 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707032714/http://www.cfr.org/india/raw-indias-external-intelligence-agency/p17707 |archive-date=7 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/>

During the nine-year tenure of its first Secretary, [[Rameshwar Nath Kao]], R&AW quickly came to prominence in the global intelligence community, playing a role in major events such as [[Sikkim|accession of the state of Sikkim]] to India in 1975.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070815/asp/opinion/story_8195501.asp | location=Calcutta, India | work=The Telegraph | first=Jyoti | last=Malhotra | title=What's the score on India's covert operations | date=15 August 2007 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410230845/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070815/asp/opinion/story_8195501.asp | archive-date=10 April 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Headquartered in [[New Delhi]], R&AW's current chief is [[Parag Jain]]. The head of R&AW is designated as the [[Secretary to Government of India|Secretary]] (Research) in the [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]], and is under the authority of the [[Prime Minister of India]] without parliamentary oversight. Secretary reports to the [[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Advisor]] on a daily basis.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranjan |first=Amitav |date=2015-11-26 |title=On govt table: 5-yr term for RAW chief |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/on-govt-table-5-yr-term-for-raw-chief/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> In 1968, upon its formation, the [[Second Indira Gandhi ministry|union government]] led by the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) adopted the motto [[Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah|Dharmō Rakṣati Rakṣitaḥ]].<ref name="NewIdea">{{Cite book |last1=Madhusudan |first1=Harsh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-iTREAAAQBAJ&dq=Research+Analysis+Wing+Dharmo&pg=PT279 |title=A New Idea of India: The Civilizational Republic |last2=Mantri |first2=Rajeev |date=2023-05-29 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5708-084-2 |language=en |quote="...the Congress-led Union government in 1968 saw fit to give the motto of 'Dharmo rakshati rakshitah' (dharma protects its protectors) to India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing."}}</ref>

==History==
===Background (1923–69)===
Prior to the inception of the Research and Analysis Wing, overseas intelligence collection was primarily the responsibility of the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] (IB), which was created by the Government of India during [[British Raj]]. In 1933, sensing the political turmoil in the world which eventually led to the [[Second World War]], the Intelligence Bureau's responsibilities were increased to include the collection of [[intelligence (information gathering)|intelligence]] along India's borders.

In 1947, after [[History of India#Indian independence movement (1885–1947)|independence]], Sanjeevi Pillai took over as the first Indian Director of the IB. Having been depleted of trained manpower by the exit of the British after [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Indian independence]], Pillai tried to run the bureau on [[MI5]] lines. In 1949, Pillai organised a small foreign intelligence operation, but the Indian debacle in the [[Sino-Indian War]] of 1962 showed it to be ineffective. Foreign intelligence failure during the 1962 Sino-Indian War led then-Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] to order a dedicated foreign intelligence agency to be established.<ref name="FAsummary"/> After the [[Indo-Pakistani war of 1965]], the Chief of Army Staff, General [[Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri]], also called for more intelligence-gathering.<ref name="FAsummary"/><ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/> Around the end of 1966 the concept of a separate foreign intelligence agency began to take concrete shape.

===Formation of R&AW in 1968 to present===
[[File:Indian intelligence setup.gif|thumb|299x299px|The framework of Indian intelligence]]

The [[premiership of Indira Gandhi|Indira Gandhi administration]] decided that a full-fledged second security service was needed. [[R. N. Kao]], then a deputy director of the Intelligence Bureau, submitted a blueprint for the new agency.<ref name="SunilSaini_RNKao">{{Cite news|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE4-5/sainis.html |title=Obituary:Rameshwar Nath Kao (1918–2002) |last=Sainis |first=Sunil |date=March–April 2002 |work=Volume 4(5) |publisher=Bharat Rakshak Monitor |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520170101/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE4-5/sainis.html |archive-date=20 May 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref> Kao was appointed as the chief of India's first foreign intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing.<ref name="ijic">{{Cite journal |title= Unraveling India's Foreign Intelligence: The Origins and Evolution of the Research and Analysis Wing |last= Shaffer |first= Ryan |year= 2015 |volume= 28 |issue= 2 |journal= International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence |doi= 10.1080/08850607.2015.992754 |pages= 252–289 |s2cid= 154372472 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>{{rp|259}} The R&AW was given the responsibility for strategic external intelligence, human as well as technical, plus concurrent responsibility with the [[Directorate of Military Intelligence (India)|Directorate-General of Military Intelligence]] for tactical trans-border military intelligence up to a certain depth across the [[Line of control]] (LOC) and the [[India–Pakistan border|international border]].<ref name="FAsummary"/>

From its inception R&AW has been criticised for being an agency not answerable to the people of India (R&AW reports to Prime Minister only). Fears arose that it could turn into the [[KGB]] of India. Such fears were kept at bay by the R&AW's able leadership (although detractors of R&AW and especially the [[Janata Party]] have accused the agency of letting itself be used for terrorising and intimidating opposition during [[The Emergency (India)|the 1975–1977 Emergency]]). The main controversy which has plagued R&AW in recent years is over bureaucratisation of the system with allegations about favouritism in promotions, corruption, ego clashes, no financial accountability,<ref name="outlookindia.com"/> inter-departmental rivalry, etc.<ref>{{cite web |last=Watch |first=Naxal |url=http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2009/02/special-report-new-era-new-hope-at.html |title=IntelliBriefs: Special report: New Era, New Hope at India's Intelligence Agency |publisher=Intellibriefs.blogspot.com |date=15 February 2009 |access-date=4 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205090738/http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2009/02/special-report-new-era-new-hope-at.html |archive-date=5 February 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>C K Kutty. [http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02spec3.htm A RAW Hand] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315153842/http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02spec3.htm |date=15 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://in.rediff.com/news/2009/feb/02can-new-chief-turn-raw-around.htm |title=Can its new chief turn R&AW around?: Rediff.com news |work=Rediff.com |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518102120/http://in.rediff.com/news/2009/feb/02can-new-chief-turn-raw-around.htm |archive-date=18 May 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main50.asp?filename=Ws120911unintelligence.asp |title=India's Independent Weekly News Magazine |work=Tehelka |access-date=28 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814175215/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main50.asp?filename=Ws120911unintelligence.asp |archive-date=14 August 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Noted security analyst and former [[Additional Secretary to Government of India|Additional Secretary]] B. Raman has criticised the agency for its asymmetric growth; "while being strong in its capability for covert action it is weak in its capability for intelligence collection, analysis and assessment. Strong in low and medium-grade intelligence, weak in high-grade intelligence. Strong in [[TECHINT|technical intelligence]], weak in [[HUMINT|human intelligence]]. Strong in collation, weak in analysis. Strong in investigation, weak in prevention. Strong in crisis management, weak in crisis prevention."<ref>'The Kaoboys of RAW: Down Memory Lane', B. Raman, Lancer Publishers (2007), {{ISBN|0-9796174-3-X}}</ref>

R&AW started as a wing of the main Intelligence Bureau with 250 employees and an annual budget of {{Indian Rupee}}2 [[crore]]. In the early seventies, its annual budget had risen to {{Indian Rupee}}30 crore while its personnel numbered several thousand. In 2007, the budget of R&AW is speculated to be as high as {{USD}}150&nbsp;million<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501020506-234000,00.html India vs. Pakistan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013112338/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C501020506-234000%2C00.html |date=13 October 2007 }}{{Retrieved|access-date=11 April 2007}}.</ref><ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/> to as low as {{USD}}100&nbsp;million.<ref name="brasseys_international_intelligence_yearbook_2003_edition">{{Cite book | last1 = Henderson | first1 = Robert W. | title = Brassey's International Intelligence Yearbook: 2003 Edition (Brassey's International Intelligence Yearbook (Paperback)) | publisher = Brassey's Inc | isbn = 978-1-57488-550-7 | page = 78 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=NEp9FjHckLYC | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160108060646/https://books.google.com/books?id=NEp9FjHckLYC | archive-date = 8 January 2016 | df = dmy-all | year = 2003 }}</ref>

===Additional child agencies===
Slowly other child agencies such as the Radio Research Center and the [[Electronics and Technical Services]] (ETS) were added to R&AW in the 1970s and 1990s. In 1971, Kao had persuaded the Government to set up the [[Aviation Research Centre]] (ARC). The ARC's main purpose was [[aerial reconnaissance]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Intelligence-agencies-run-into-babu-bind/2013/04/28/article1564632.ece1|title=Intelligence agencies run into babu bind|last=Yadav|first=Yatish|date=28 April 2013|work=The Sunday Standard|access-date=21 May 2013|location=New Delhi|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704132333/http://newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Intelligence-agencies-run-into-babu-bind/2013/04/28/article1564632.ece1|archive-date=4 July 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Kenneth J. Conboy|author2=James Morrison|title=The CIA's Secret War in Tibet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hsDtAAAAMAAJ|year=2002|publisher=University Press of Kansas|isbn=978-0-7006-1159-1|pages=188–195}}</ref> It replaced the [[Indian Air Force]]'s old reconnaissance aircraft, and by the mid-1970s, R&AW, through the ARC, had high quality aerial pictures of the installations along the [[Line of Actual Control|Chinese]] and [[India–Pakistan border|Pakistani borders]].

In the 1970s, the [[Special Frontier Force]] (SFF) moved under R&AW from [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] (IB) and was tasked to [[Mukti Bahini|train Bengali rebels]].<ref name="ijic"/>{{rp|262}} In 1977, R&AW's operations and staff were dramatically cut under the [[premiership of Morarji Desai]], which hurt the organisation's capabilities<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 =  Shaffer| first1 = Ryan| title = Significant Distrust and Drastic Cuts: The Indian Government's Uneasy Relationship with Intelligence | doi = 10.1080/08850607.2017.1263529 | journal = International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence | volume = 30 | issue = 3 | pages = 522–531  | year = 2017 | s2cid = 157714194}}</ref> with the shutting of entire sections of R&AW, like its Information Division.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 =  Shaffer| first1 = Ryan| title = Indian intelligence revealed: an examination of operations, failures and transformations | doi = 10.1080/02684527.2017.1327135 | journal = Intelligence and National Security | volume = 32 | issue = 4| pages =  598–610| year = 2017 | s2cid = 157485301}}</ref> These cuts were reduced following Gandhi's return. In 2004, [[National Technical Research Organisation]] (NTRO) was setup by Government of India as a super-feeder agency for [[technical intelligence]].

While the exact nature of the operations conducted by NTRO is classified, it is believed that it deals with research on [[Image analysis|imagery]] and communications using various platforms.<ref name="FAsummary"/><ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/>
==Objectives==
The present R&AW<ref name="inside_raw">{{Cite book | last1 = Raina | first1 = Asoka | title = Inside RAW: the story of India's secret service | year = 1981 | publisher = Vikas | location = New Delhi | isbn = 978-0-7069-1299-9 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0zYmAAAAMAAJ | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160502173655/https://books.google.com/books?id=0zYmAAAAMAAJ | archive-date = 2 May 2016 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> objectives include:

* Monitoring the political, military, economic and scientific developments in countries which have a direct bearing on India's national security and the formulation of its foreign policy.
* Moulding international public opinion and influence foreign governments.
* Covert Operations to safeguard India's national interests.
* Anti-terror operations and neutralising elements posing a threat to India.

In the past, following the [[Sino-Indian war]] of 1962 and due to India's volatile relations with Pakistan, R&AW's objectives had also consisted of the following:
* To watch the development of international communism and the schism between the two big communist nations, the [[Soviet Union]] and China. As with other countries, both these powers had direct access to the communist parties in India.
* To control and limit the supply of military hardware to Pakistan, from mostly European countries, America and more importantly from China.<ref name="FAsummary"/><ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/>

==Structure and organisation==
[[File:Structure of Research and Analysis Wing RAW.gif|thumb|304x304px|Organisational structure of R&AW.]]
The head of R&AW is designated [[Secretary to Government of India|Secretary]] (R) in the [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]]. Most of the previous chiefs have been experts on either Pakistan or China.<ref name="A RAW hand: Rediff.com news">{{cite web |url=http://inhome.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02spec3.htm?zcc=rl |title=A RAW hand: Rediff.com news |work=Rediff.com |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231144319/http://inhome.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02spec3.htm?zcc=rl |archive-date=31 December 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> They also have the benefit of training in either the USA or the UK, and more recently in [[Israel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.saag.org/papers11/paper1005.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013095752/http://www.saag.org/papers11/paper1005.html|url-status=dead|title=The new Indian Govt. & national security: Part V & last|archive-date=13 October 2007}}</ref> R&AW works directly under the command of the Prime Minister. Its structure and operations are classified. On a daily basis, the Secretary (R) reports to the [[National Security Adviser (India)|National Security Adviser]]. The purview of the [[Cabinet Secretary (India)|Cabinet Secretary]] over the R&AW is limited to administrative and financial matters. The Secretary (R) reports on an administrative basis to the Cabinet Secretary, who reports to the Prime Minister. Reporting to the Secretary (R) are:<ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/>
* An [[Additional Secretary to Government of India|Additional Secretary]] responsible for the Office of Special Operations and intelligence collected from different countries processed by large number of [[Joint Secretary to Government of India|Joint Secretaries]], who are the functional heads of various specified desks with different regional divisions/areas/countries: Area one – Pakistan; Area two – China and Southeast Asia; Area three – the Middle East and Africa; and Area four – other countries. Two Special Joint Secretaries, reporting to the [[Additional Secretary to Government of India|Additional Secretary]], head the Electronics and Technical Department which is the nodal agency for [[Electronics and Technical Services|ETS]] and the Radio Research Center.
* The Directorate General of Security has important sections – the [[Aviation Research Centre]] is headed by one Special Secretary.<ref name="6th Pay commission recommendation on Cabinet Secretariat">{{cite web | url=http://www.taxindiaonline.com/RC2/pdfdocs/6th_pay_commission/report/report7_4.pdf | title=6th Pay commission recommendation on Cabinet Secretariat | access-date=13 September 2013 | author=GoI | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418013756/http://www.taxindiaonline.com/RC2/pdfdocs/6th_pay_commission/report/report7_4.pdf | archive-date=18 April 2013 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
The internal structure of the R&AW is a matter of speculation, but brief overviews of the same are present in the public domain. Attached to the Headquarters of R&AW at [[Lodi Road]], New Delhi are different regional headquarters, which have direct links to overseas stations and are headed by a controlling officer who keeps records of different projects assigned to field officers who are posted abroad. Intelligence is usually collected from a variety of sources by field officers and deputy field officers; it is either preprocessed by a senior field officer or by a desk officer. The desk officer then passes the information to the [[Joint Secretary to Government of India|Joint Secretary]] and then on to the [[Additional Secretary to Government of India|Additional Secretary]] and from there it is disseminated to the concerned end user. R&AW intelligence officers are called "Research Officers" instead of the traditional "case officers". There is a sizeable number of female officers in R&AW even at the operational level. In recent years, R&AW has shifted its primary focus from Pakistan to China and have started operating a separate desk for this purpose.<ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/>

The [[Joint Intelligence Committee (India)|Joint Intelligence Committee]] (JIC), under the [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]], is responsible for coordinating and analysing intelligence activities between R&AW, the Intelligence Bureau and the [[Defence Intelligence Agency (India)|Defence Intelligence Agency]] (DIA). In practice, however, the effectiveness of the JIC has been varied.<ref>{{Cite book | last1 = Dixit | first1 = J. N. (Jyotindra Nath) | title = My South Block years: memoirs of a foreign secretary | year = 1996 | publisher = UBS Publishers' Distributors | location = New Delhi | isbn = 978-81-7476-132-3 | page = 418 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=6lFuAAAAMAAJ | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160108060646/https://books.google.com/books?id=6lFuAAAAMAAJ | archive-date = 8 January 2016 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Director of R&AW is a member of the JIC Steering Committee and is authorized to brief the Prime Minister.<ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/> With the establishment of the [[National Security Council (India)|National Security Council]] in 1999, the role of the JIC has been merged with the NSC. R&AW's legal status is unusual, in that it is not an "Agency", but a "Wing" of the [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]]. Hence, R&AW is not answerable to the [[Parliament of India]] on any issue, which keeps it out of reach of the [[Right to Information Act]].<ref>[http://www.helplinelaw.com/docs/main.php3?id=RTON1 Dept. Right to Information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314232914/http://www.helplinelaw.com/docs/main.php3?id=RTON1 |date=14 March 2007 }} which are excluded</ref>{{efn|However notwithstanding that they are exempt from the Right to Information Act, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) has conveyed, in response to an RTI petition filed by Anuj Dhar, that they are not holding any information on [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] [http://www.missionnetaji.org/page/raw_rti.html RAW says no info on Netaji, but the slip shows].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.missionnetaji.org/page/raw_rti.html |title=:::MISSION NETAJI::: R&AW; says no info on Netaji, but the slip shows |access-date=14 February 2007 |archive-date=15 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315190628/http://www.missionnetaji.org/page/raw_rti.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>}} This exemption was granted through Section 24 read with Schedule II of the act.<ref name="Section 24 in The Right To Information Act, 2005">{{cite web|title=Section 24 in The Right To Information Act, 2005|url=http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1767825/|publisher=indiankanoon.org|access-date=2 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613065350/http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1767825/|archive-date=13 June 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, information regarding the allegations of corruption and human rights violations has to be disclosed.<ref name="Section 24 in The Right To Information Act, 2005"/><ref name="Reveal Case Details of Sex Abuse, Graft: CIC to RAW">{{cite news|title=Reveal Case Details of Sex Abuse, Graft: CIC to RAW |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=767441 |access-date=2 July 2012 |date=2 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502223919/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=767441 |archive-date=2 May 2013 }}</ref>

===Field formations===

R&AW has 10 field formations all over India, known as Special Bureaus. These Bureaus have an area of responsibility targeted towards the countries that share land [[Borders of India|border with India]]. They are largely located in major cities near or along the borders:<ref>[https://madc.mizoram.gov.in/uploads/attachments/856e9770c9b8e63e7bb0bcd428555d31/posts-259-mara-reih-athaipa-chata-rai-ruapa.pdf Recruitment Notice for Field Assistant (GD)], R&AW Headquarters, 13 March 2020, forwarded to District Magistrate, Saiha, Mizoram by Deputy Commissioner, Special Bureau, Aizawl on 2 July 2020, see list of recipients on page 5 of the file, [https://web.archive.org/web/20210820030427/https://madc.mizoram.gov.in/uploads/attachments/856e9770c9b8e63e7bb0bcd428555d31/posts-259-mara-reih-athaipa-chata-rai-ruapa.pdf archived copy]</ref>

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
! Zone 
! Headquarters
! Rank of Zonal Head
! Equivalent rank in R&AW
|-
|Northern Zone
|Jammu
|Additional Secretary
|Additional Secretary 
|-
|Eastern Zone
|Kolkata
|Commissioner
|Joint Secretary
|-
|South-Western Zone
|Mumbai
|Commissioner
|Joint Secretary
|-
|North-Eastern Zone
|Shillong
|Commissioner
|Joint Secretary
|-
|Southern Zone
|Chennai
|Additional Commissioner
|Director
|-
|Central Zone
|Lucknow
|Additional Commissioner
|Director
|-
|Western Zone
|Jodhpur
|Deputy Commissioner
|Deputy Secretary
|}

== Recruitment ==
{{see also | Recruitment of spies }}
Initially, R&AW relied primarily on trained [[intelligence (information gathering)|intelligence]] officers who were recruited directly. These belonged to the external wing of the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]]. Candidates are mostly recruited from the [[Indian Police Service|IPS]] and few other civil services along with candidates from armed forces of India, the latter being in lesser number though. Later, it began directly recruiting graduates from universities. However owing to allegations of nepotism in appointments,<ref>{{cite book|last=IDSA|title=A case for intelligence reforms in India|url=http://www.idsa.in/system/files/book_IntellegenceReform.pdf|year=2012|publisher=IDSA|isbn=978-93-82169-03-1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013204746/http://idsa.in/system/files/book_IntellegenceReform.pdf|archive-date=13 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> in 1983 R&AW created its own service cadre, the Research and Analysis Service (RAS) to absorb talent from other Group A Civil Services, under the Central Staffing Scheme.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idsa.in/askanexpert/HowaboutawebsiteforRAWandcanwerecruitmorepeoplefromoutsideUPSCroute |title=Bharath asked: How about a website for R&AW and can we recruit more people from outside UPSC route? we got to change &#124; Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses |publisher=Idsa.in |access-date=28 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418162522/http://www.idsa.in/askanexpert/HowaboutawebsiteforRAWandcanwerecruitmorepeoplefromoutsideUPSCroute |archive-date=18 April 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Direct recruitment at Class I executive level is from Civil services officers undergoing Foundation course at [[Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration]]. At the end of the course, it conducts a campus interview. Based on a selection of psychological tests and the interview, candidates are inducted for a lien period of one year. During this period, they have an option of rejoining their parent service (if they wish to) after which they can be permanently absorbed into the Research and Analysis Service. Delhi-based security think tank Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses noted in one of its reports that R&AW suffered from the 'tail-end syndrome' where the 'bottom of the entrance lists' of those qualifying the [[Union Public Service Commission|UPSC examinations]] were offered jobs.<ref name="outlookindia.com">{{cite web |url=http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?270538 |title=Ghosts Who Walk &#124; Saikat Datta |publisher=Outlookindia.com |access-date=28 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407172251/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?270538 |archive-date=7 April 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Additionally, recruitment is also by lateral deputation from the Officer corps of Armed Forces or Group A Civil Service Officers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.davp.nic.in/WriteReadData/ADS/eng_58101_6_1213b.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325190918/http://www.davp.nic.in/WriteReadData/ADS/eng_58101_6_1213b.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Advertisement for position in Cabinet Secretariat |publisher=[[Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity]]| date= 19 August 2013|archive-date=25 March 2014}}</ref> The Civil and Defence Service Officers permanently resign their cadre and join the RAS.<ref name="Memorandum for lateral induction into RAS">{{cite web|url=http://www.dop.rajasthan.gov.in/Uploadfiles/1932012_13248_Nomination%20of%20IFS%20for%20lateral%20Induction%20to%20the%20RAS.pdf |title=Memorandum for lateral induction into RAS |date=24 February 2012 |access-date=11 September 2013 |author=Cabinet Secretariat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609223638/http://www.dop.rajasthan.gov.in/Uploadfiles/1932012_13248_Nomination%20of%20IFS%20for%20lateral%20Induction%20to%20the%20RAS.pdf |archive-date=9 June 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> However, according to recent reports, officers can return to their parent cadre after serving a specific period in the agency if they wish to.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/aug/27raw.htm |title=Soon, a beefier, meaner, deadlier RAW |work=Rediff.com |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008101430/http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/aug/27raw.htm |archive-date=8 October 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Most of the [[Secretary to Government of India|secretaries]] have been officers from the [[Indian Police Service|IPS]] and other posts are held by [[Indian Revenue Service|IRS]] and [[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]] officers. R&AW also employs a number of linguists and other experts in various fields.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020618/edu.htm |title=Career Queries Hotline: I want to join RAW. How should I go about it? |work=The Tribune |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203091159/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020618/edu.htm |archive-date=3 December 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The service conditions of R&AW officers are governed by the Research and Analysis Wing (Recruitment, Cadre and Service) Rules, 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/58327933/|title=Vinod Kumar Jain vs Union of India on 5 March, 2009|publisher=indiankanoon.org|access-date=25 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122131/http://indiankanoon.org/doc/58327933/|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Training===
;Basic training
Basic training commences with '[[pep talk]]s' to boost the morale of the new recruit. This is a ten-day phase in which the inductee is familiarised with the real world of intelligence and [[espionage]], as opposed to the spies of fiction. Common usages, [[tradecraft]] techniques and [[Classified information|classification of information]] are taught. Financial and [[economic analysis]], [[space technology]], [[information security]], [[energy security]] and [[scientific knowledge]] is imbibed to the trainees. The recruit is made to specialise in a foreign language and introduced to [[Geopolitics|Geostrategic analysis]]. Case studies of other agencies like [[CIA]], [[KGB]], [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]], [[Mossad]] and [[Secret Intelligence Service|MI6]] are presented for study. The inductee is also taught that intelligence organisations do not identify who is friend and who is foe, the country's [[foreign policy]] does. Basic classroom training in tactics and language are imparted to R&AW officers at the residential Training and Language Institute in [[Gurgaon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.headlinesindia.com/defence-news/army/raw-officer-attempts-suicide-outside-pmo-531.html |title=RAW officer attempts suicide at PMO |publisher=Headlinesindia.com |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113073046/http://www.headlinesindia.com/defence-news/army/raw-officer-attempts-suicide-outside-pmo-531.html |archive-date=13 January 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defencejournal.com/feb-mar99/raw-at-war.htm |title=Raw at War-Genesis of Secret Agencies in Ancient India |publisher=Defencejournal.com |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502180923/http://www.defencejournal.com/feb-mar99/raw-at-war.htm |archive-date=2 May 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/to-bridge-language-gap-raw-ropes-in-native-linguists-as-gurus/|title=To bridge language gap, R&AW ropes in native linguists as 'gurus'|last=Sarin|first=Ritu|date=4 February 2014|work=The Indian Express|access-date=23 February 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301085823/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/to-bridge-language-gap-raw-ropes-in-native-linguists-as-gurus/|archive-date=1 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> A multi-disciplinary school of economic intelligence is also being set up in Mumbai to train intelligence officers in investigating economic crimes like money laundering for terror purposes etc.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Soon-training-school-for-secret-agents-in-Mumbai/articleshow/9253591.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Soon, training school for secret agents in Mumbai | date=17 July 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717231320/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Soon-training-school-for-secret-agents-in-Mumbai/articleshow/9253591.cms | archive-date=17 July 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

;Advanced training
After completing 'Basic Training' the recruit is now attached to a Field Intelligence Bureau (FIB). Their training here lasts for 1–2 years. They are given firsthand experience of what it was to be out in the [[Cold War espionage|figurative cold]], conducting [[clandestine operation]]s. During night exercises under realistic conditions, they are taught [[infiltration tactics|infiltration]] and [[exfil]]tration. They are also instructed to avoid capture and if caught, how to face [[interrogation]]. They will learn the art of [[reconnoitre]], making contacts, and, the [[Espionage#Technology and techniques|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. Before their deployment in the field, they will be given exhaustive training in the art of [[self-defence]] mainly [[Krav Maga]], and the use of technical espionage devices. They are also drilled in various administrative disciplines so that they could take their place in the foreign missions without arousing suspicion. They are now ready to operate under the cover of an Embassy to gather information, set up their own network of informers, [[mole (espionage)|moles]] or operatives as the task may require. Field and arms training is provided in the [[Indian Military Academy]] Headquarters at [[Dehradun]].<ref>"Open Secrets: India's Intelligence Unveiled"- Maloy Krishna Dhar. He was the joint director of IB.</ref> The training model has been criticised as being 'archaic and too police-centric' and not incorporating 'modern technological advances in methods of communication' etc.

===Shortage of staff===
R&AW has a severe shortage of employees. The number of personnel in 2013 was estimated to be 5,000 personnel. This represents a staff deficit of 40% below sanctioned strength. In 2013, [[The Hindu]] reported the organisation was short on management level staff by 130 and in specialized areas like technology there was also a huge shortage. In number of [[Cryptanalysis|cryptanalysts]], it was short by approximately 33%.<ref name="lownumber">{{cite news |title=Five years after 26/11, Intelligence services still crippled by staff shortage |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/five-years-after-2611-intelligence-services-still-crippled-by-staff-shortage/article5391698.ece |work=The Hindu |date=November 26, 2013 |access-date=10 October 2023 |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004171707/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/five-years-after-2611-intelligence-services-still-crippled-by-staff-shortage/article5391698.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Functions and methods==
{{Campaignbox|title=[[Intelligence (information gathering)|Methods of Intelligence collection]] |battles=[[SIGINT|Signals Intelligence]] – [[HUMINT|Human Intelligence]] – [[IMINT|Imagery Intelligence]]– [[ELINT|Electronic Intelligence]] – [[MASINT|Measurement & Signature Intelligence]] – [[OSINT|Open Source Intelligence]] – [[COMINT#COMINT|Communications Intelligence]] – [[FISINT|Foreign instrumentation signals intel]] – [[GEOINT|Geospatial Intel]] – [[FININT|Financial Intelligence]] – [[TECHINT|Technical Intelligence]] – [[TELINT|Telemetry Intelligence]] – [[ACINT|Acoustic Intelligence]] – [[IRINT|Infrared Intelligence]] – [[RINT|Radiation Intelligence]]}}

The primary mission of R&AW includes intelligence collection via [[HUMINT]], [[psychological warfare]], [[subversion (politics)|subversion]], [[sabotage]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1868769/report-why-does-india-dither-on-bringing-dawood-to-justice|title=Why does India dither on bringing Dawood to justice?|last=Balakrishnan|first=S|date=2 August 2013|work=DNA|access-date=19 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824045926/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1868769/report-why-does-india-dither-on-bringing-dawood-to-justice|archive-date=24 August 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> R&AW maintains active liaison with other agencies and services in various countries. Those agencies include [[Foreign Intelligence Service (Russia)|SVR]] of Russia, Afghanistan's [[National Directorate of Security|NDS]], Israel's [[Mossad]], Germany's [[Federal Intelligence Service|BND]], the [[CIA]] and [[MI6]] have been well-known, a common interest being Pakistan's [[Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction|nuclear programme]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/disproportionate-case-mossad-r-k--yadav-anand-kumar-verma/1/258012.html|title=A House for Mossad|last=Unnithan|first=Sandeep|date=25 March 2013|work=India Today|access-date=19 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817025432/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/disproportionate-case-mossad-r-k--yadav-anand-kumar-verma/1/258012.html|archive-date=17 August 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Stations abroad===
R&AW has been active in obtaining information and operating through third countries.<ref name="FAsummary"/> R&AW offices abroad have limited strength and are largely geared to the collection of [[military intelligence|military]], [[Business intelligence|economic]], [[Industrial espionage|scientific]], and [[politics|political intelligence]]. R&AW monitors the activities of certain organisations abroad only insofar as they relate to their involvement with [[Narcoterrorism|narco terrorist]] elements and [[smuggling]] arms, ammunition, explosives, etc. into India.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Vohra Committee Report (Ministry of Home Affairs) |journal=Indian Journal of Public Administration |date=3 October 2017 |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=640–647 |doi=10.1177/0019556119950343|s2cid=220370239 }}</ref> It does not monitor the activities of criminal elements abroad, which are mainly confined to normal smuggling without any links to terrorist elements.<ref name="FAsummary"/><ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/>

R&AW officers are posted to Indian diplomatic missions under official cover as diplomats, frequently in the consular wing. The relationship between R&AW and the Ministry of External Affairs has been unstable because they "inhabit different worlds" according to the Times of India.

A task force report prepared by a New Delhi-based security think tank highlighted that R&AW operatives have inadequate non-official cover for overseas operations which 'limits access to spot real targets' and causes issues on handling 'high-value assets'.<ref name="outlookindia.com"/>

{{Campaignbox|title=[[Espionage|Espionage Techniques]]
|battles=[[Agent Handling]]– [[Black Bag Operations]]– [[Black operation]] [[Concealment device]]– [[Cryptography]]– [[Dead drop]] [[Eavesdropping]]– [[False flag|False flag operations]]– [[Honeypot (espionage)|Honeypot]]– [[Nonofficial cover]]– [[Interrogation]]– [[Numbers station|Numbers messaging]]– [[One-way voice link]] – [[Steganography]]– [[Surveillance]]– [[Tempest (codename)|TEMPEST]]
}}

==Operations and activities==
The known activities and operations of R&AW, by country:

===Africa===
====South Africa and Namibia====
R&AW trained the intelligence officers of many independent African countries and assisted the anti-apartheid struggles in South Africa and [[Namibia]]. Retired R&AW officers were deputed to work in training institutes of intelligence agencies of some African states.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IH18Df03.html |title=South Asia news – India's silent warriors |work=Asia Times |date=18 August 2007 |access-date=28 May 2012 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814175215/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IH18Df03.html |archive-date=14 August 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

====Senegal====
R&AW was one of the primary agencies that provided the information about [[Ravi Pujari]], being located in Senegal. This information was then provided to Senegalese authorities, who arrested Pujari and deported him to India. He was formally arrested at [[Kempegowda International Airport]] by [[Karnataka Police]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/on-the-run-for-over-20-years-how-a-special-squad-tracked-down-pujari/story-KJP5PGsHZQEQpR9ZK7tsTN.html|title=How a special squad caught gangster Ravi Pujari|date=March 2020|access-date=1 March 2020|publisher=Hindustan Times|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623040948/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/on-the-run-for-over-20-years-how-a-special-squad-tracked-down-pujari/story-KJP5PGsHZQEQpR9ZK7tsTN_amp.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Asia===
====Afghanistan====
During the [[Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet War in Afghanistan]], R&AW had recruited three powerful warlords, including [[Ahmad Shah Massoud]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/raw-had-recruited-three-warlords-in-afghanistan-says-book-868599.html|title=R&AW had recruited three warlords in Afghanistan, says book|date=2 August 2020|publisher=Deccan Herald|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=15 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415010922/https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/national/raw-had-recruited-three-warlords-in-afghanistan-says-book-868599.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1996, R&AW had built a 25-bed military hospital at the [[Farkhor Air Base]].{{efn|The Northern Alliance military commander, [[Ahmad Shah Massoud]], who was assassinated in September 2001 by two Arab suicide bombers posing as journalists, died in the India-run hospital.<ref name="farkhor"/>}}<ref name="farkhor">{{cite web|url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1919/19190600.htm |title=India and Central Asia |publisher=Frontlineonnet.com |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202171947/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1919/19190600.htm |archive-date= 2 December 2008 |df=dmy }}</ref> This airbase was used by the [[Aviation Research Centre]], the reconnaissance arm of R&AW, to repair and operate the Northern Alliance's aerial support. This relationship was further cemented in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|2001 Afghan war]].<ref name="farkhor"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jir/jir010315_1_n.shtml |title=India joins anti-Taliban coalition – Jane's Security News |publisher=Janes.com |date=15 March 2001 |access-date=28 September 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080226012915/http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jir/jir010315_1_n.shtml| archive-date = 26 February 2008}}</ref>

After the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], R&AW provided the intelligence to western countries that there were over 120 [[Afghan training camp|training camps]] operating in Afghanistan and [[Pakistan]], run by a variety of militant groups.<ref name=Cnn-2001-09-19>
{{cite news
 |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/central/09/19/inv.afghanistan.camp/ 
 |title=India identifies terrorist training camps 
 |publisher=CNN 
 |date=2001-09-19 
 |author=Bindra, Satinder 
 |quote=Sources told CNN that more than 120 camps are operating in the two countries. 
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210073323/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/central/09/19/inv.afghanistan.camp/
 |archive-date=2008-12-10
}} 
</ref>

After the [[United States invasion of Afghanistan#Overthrow of the Taliban|Overthrow of Taliban in Afghanistan]] in 2001, R&AW was the first intelligence agency to determine the extent of the [[Airlift of Evil|Kunduz airlift]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hersh|first1=Seymour|title=The Getaway|url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2002/01/28/020128fa_FACT?currentPage=all|access-date=17 July 2014|magazine=The New Yorker|date=28 January 2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701233232/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2002/01/28/020128fa_FACT?currentPage=all|archive-date=1 July 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/how-india-secretly-armed-ahmad-shah-massouds-northern-alliance/article29310513.ece|title=How India secretly armed Afghanistan's Northern Alliance|last=Sudarshan|first=V.|date=2019-09-01|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-09-10|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=18 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818135158/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/how-india-secretly-armed-ahmad-shah-massouds-northern-alliance/article29310513.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, R&AW undertook [[Counterterrorism|counter-terrorism]] operation, described as “unprecedented in its scale and scope”, foiled a major terrorist attack by an [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province|Islamic State - Khorasan]] [[Suicide attack|suicide bomber]] in New Delhi. The [[CIA]] was also involved in this Operation. The militant was later transferred to a US base in Afghanistan for further questioning. The operation spanned 3 countries and involved 80 Research officers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-intelligence-infiltrated-is-ring-to-track-arrest-afghan-suicide-bomber-sent-to-hit-delhi-5254357/lite/|title=Indian intelligence infiltrated Islamic State ring to track, arrest Afghan suicide bomber sent to hit Delhi|access-date=11 July 2018|publisher=Indian Express|archive-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711112514/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-intelligence-infiltrated-is-ring-to-track-arrest-afghan-suicide-bomber-sent-to-hit-delhi-5254357/lite/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November–December 2019, a special [[Extraction (military)|exfiltration]] operation was undertaken by R&AW. At least four Indian nationals working in various parts of Afghanistan, that had been abducted by the [[Haqqani network]], were successfully rescued.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/agencies-rescue-indians-abducted-afghan|title=Agencies rescue Indians abducted in Afghan|date=4 January 2020|access-date=4 January 2020|publisher=Sunday Guardian|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623125423/https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/agencies-rescue-indians-abducted-afghan|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, 10 [[Ministry of State Security (China)|MSS]] Operatives from Xinjiang State Security Department (XSSD) were arrested in&nbsp;[[Kabul]]&nbsp;by the Afghan&nbsp;[[National Directorate of Security|NDS]]. During Questioning, one of the operatives told the interrogators that they were gathering information about&nbsp;al-Qaeda,&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;and&nbsp;[[Turkistan Islamic Party]]&nbsp;in [[Kunar Province|Kunar]] and [[Badakhshan province]]s, and wanted to assassinate high-level members of [[Turkistan Islamic Party|TIP]]. This [[Counter-Intelligence|counter-intelligence]] operation was undertaken based on a tip from R&AW.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/did-china-build-a-spy-network-in-kabul/|title=Did China Build a Spy Network in Kabul?|first=Ezzatullah|last=Mehrdad|website=thediplomat.com|access-date=17 August 2021|archive-date=17 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817222700/https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/did-china-build-a-spy-network-in-kabul/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Bangladesh====
{{Further|Bangladesh Liberation War|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
In the early 1970s, the [[Pakistan Army|army of Pakistan]] launched [[Operation Searchlight|military crackdown]] in response to the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Bangladesh independence movement]].<ref>{{Banglapedia|Operation_Searchlight|Operation Searchlight}}</ref> Nearly 1 crore (10 million) refugees fled to India. R&AW was instrumental in the formation of the Bangladeshi guerrilla organisation [[Mukti Bahini]] and responsible for supplying information, providing training and heavy ammunition to this organisation. It is also alleged that R&AW planned and executed the [[1971 Indian Airlines hijacking]] as a [[false flag]] operation to ban overflight by Pakistani aircraft and disrupt Pakistani troop movement in [[East Pakistan]].{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} [[Special Frontier Force]], then under R&AW actively participated in military operations especially in the [[Chittagong Hill Tracts]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/indias-secret-war-in-bangladesh/article2747538.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | first=Praveen | last=Swami | title=India's secret war in Bangladesh | date=26 December 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331062228/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/indias-secret-war-in-bangladesh/article2747538.ece | archive-date=31 March 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> After the war ended in the successful creation of Bangladesh. However, four years later [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] was assassinated on 15 August 1975 at his residence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/before-his-assassination-there-was-an-attempt-on-mujibs-life/article4611312.ece|title=Before his assassination, there was an attempt on Mujib's life|author=R. K. Radhakrishnan|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=25 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226225316/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/before-his-assassination-there-was-an-attempt-on-mujibs-life/article4611312.ece|archive-date=26 December 2016|df=dmy-all|date=13 April 2013}}</ref> R&AW operatives claimed that they had advance information about [[Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman|Mujibur Rahman's assassination]] but Sheikh Mujib tragically ignored inputs.<ref name="SunilSaini_RNKao" /> He was killed along with much of his family. Later, R&AW successfully thwarted plans of assassinating [[Sheikh Hasina Wazed]], daughter of Mujibur Rahman, by [[Islamist extremists]].<ref>[http://www.lankalibrary.com/pol/hasina.html The plan to assassinate Bangladesh Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina Wajed: How LTTE deal was blocked, suicide bombers failed to explode] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110235700/http://www.lankalibrary.com/pol/hasina.html |date=10 November 2006 }} last visited on 9.4.07</ref>

In 1990, R&AW had helped engineer and support a democratic uprising against [[Hussain Muhammad Ershad|Mohammed Ershad]], thus leading to his resignation. His Pro-Pakistan and [[Anti-Hindu sentiment|Anti-Hindu]] policy decisions had been considered a threat by Indian government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2020/Aug/02/raw-a-history-of-indias-covert-operations-showcases-indias-shadow-warriors-2176989.html|title='R&AW: A History of India's Covert Operations' showcases India's shadow warriors|date=2 August 2020|publisher=New Indian Express|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=20 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920033749/https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2020/aug/02/raw-a-history-of-indias-covert-operations-showcases-indias-shadow-warriors-2176989.amp|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1991, after [[Khaleda Zia]] had won election, India was alarmed over increased harassment of pro-India politicians, large-scale radicalisation and meticulously planned infiltration of trained extremists into Indian territory by [[Jamaat-e-Islami]]. JeI had set-up several terror training camps located along the border. So in order to stop all this activity, R&AW spontaneously bombed several of its camps and a major ISI safe house, thus dismantling JeI's terror network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/raw-covert-ops-dismantled-jamaat-e-islami-terror-camps-in-1992-reveals-spymaster-amar-bhushan-in-book-4636441.html/amp|title=R&AW covert ops dismantled Jamaat-e-Islami terror camps in 1992, reveals spymaster Amar Bhushan in book|date=30 June 2018|access-date=30 June 2018|publisher=First post|archive-date=6 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706161727/https://www.firstpost.com/india/raw-covert-ops-dismantled-jamaat-e-islami-terror-camps-in-1992-reveals-spymaster-amar-bhushan-in-book-4636441.html/amp|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1977–97, India took active part in [[Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict]]. R&AW trained and financed the rebels of [[Shanti Bahini]].<ref name="nyt11Jun1989">{{cite news |last=Hazarika |first=Sanjoy |date=11 June 1989 |title=Bangladeshi Insurgents Say India Is Supporting Them |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/11/world/bangladeshi-insurgents-say-india-is-supporting-them.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807013059/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/11/world/bangladeshi-insurgents-say-india-is-supporting-them.html|archive-date=August 7, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="academia.edu">{{cite journal|url=https://www.academia.edu/2504753|title=Bangladesh: A Critical Review of the Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) Peace Accord|author=A. Kabir|journal=Working Paper No 2. The Role of Parliaments in Conflict & Post Conflict in Asia|date=January 2005|access-date=8 March 2015|archive-date=17 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517154946/https://www.academia.edu/2504753|url-status=live}}</ref>

====China====
{{see also|Nanda Devi Plutonium Mission}}
After China tested its [[596 (nuclear test)|first nuclear weapons]] on 16 October 1964, at [[Lop Nur]], [[Xinjiang]], India and the USA shared a common fear about [[People's Republic of China and weapons of mass destruction#Nuclear weapons|the nuclear capabilities of China.]]<ref>{{cite book|author1=M. S. Kohli|author2=Kenneth J. Conboy|title=Spies in the Himalayas: Secret Missions and Perilous Climbs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yajeAAAAMAAJ|year=2002|publisher=University Press of Kansas|isbn=978-0-7006-1223-9|pages=54–56}}</ref><ref>'An Eye at the Top of the World', by Pete Takeda, Thunder's Mouth Press; 1st edition (4 September 2006), {{ISBN|1-56025-845-4}}</ref> Owing to the extreme remoteness of Chinese testing grounds, strict secrecy surrounding the Chinese nuclear programme, and the extreme difficulty that an Indian or American would have passing themselves off as Chinese, it was almost impossible to carry out any [[HUMINT]] operation. So, the [[CIA]] in the late 1960s decided to launch an [[ELINT]] operation along with R&AW and [[Aviation Research Centre|ARC]] to track China's nuclear tests and monitor its missile launches. The operation, in the garb of a mountaineering expedition to [[Nanda Devi]] involved Indian climber [[M S Kohli]] who along with operatives of [[Special Frontier Force]] and the [[CIA]] – most notably Jim Rhyne, a veteran [[STOL]] pilot – was to place a permanent [[ELINT]] device, a transceiver powered by a plutonium battery, that could detect and report data on future nuclear tests carried out by China.<ref>Spies in the Himalayas, by Kenneth Conboy and M.S. Kohli, University Press of Kansas (March 2003), {{ISBN|0-7006-1223-8}}</ref> The monitoring device was near successfully implanted on [[Nanda Devi]], when an [[avalanche]] forced a hasty withdrawal.<ref>Harish Kapadia, "Nanda Devi", in ''World Mountaineering'', Audrey Salkeld, editor, Bulfinch Press, 1998, {{ISBN|0-8212-2502-2}}, pp. 254–257.</ref> Later, a subsequent mountain operation to retrieve or replant the device was aborted when it was found that the device was lost. Recent reports indicate that radiation traces from this device have been discovered in sediment below the mountains.<ref name="seattle_pi">{{Cite news |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/309005_spymain26.html |title=Spy Robert Schaller's life of secrecy, betrayal and regrets |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=25 March 2007 |access-date=28 September 2009 |first1=Carol |last1=Smith |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103171044/http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Spy-Robert-Schaller-s-life-of-secrecy-betrayal-1232285.php |archive-date=3 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In February 2020, [[Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs|Indian Customs]] officials detained a Chinese ship from [[Shanghai Port]], at [[Kandla Port]]. The ship was bound for [[Port Qasim]] in [[Karachi]]. It was seized for wrongly declaring an autoclave, which can be used in the launch process of [[ballistic missile]]s, as an industrial dryer. This seizure was done on an intelligence tip-off by R&AW.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/pak-bound-chinese-ship-intercepted-in-india-contains-cargo-used-to-launch-missiles-4951051.html/amp|title=Pak-bound Chinese ship intercepted in India, contains cargo used to launch missiles|access-date=17 February 2020|publisher=MoneyControl|archive-date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217164700/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/pak-bound-chinese-ship-intercepted-in-india-contains-cargo-used-to-launch-missiles-4951051.html/amp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mystery Chinese ship to Karachi, 5 indicted in US show Pakistan's nuclear racket is alive|url=https://www.theprint.in/opinion/mystery-chinese-ship-to-karachi-5-arrested-in-us-show-pakistans-nuclear-racket-is-alive/368151/%3famp|access-date=20 February 2020|publisher=The Print}}</ref>

==== Fiji ====

In [[Fiji]], where Fijians with Indian ancestry were being persecuted by [[Sitiveni Rabuka]], R&AW launched 
an operation involving informants in [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and [[UK]] to successfully oust him from power.<ref name="Fiji">{{cite news |title='RAW: A History of India's Covert Operations' showcases India's shadow warriors |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2020/aug/02/raw-a-history-of-indias-covert-operations-showcases-indias-shadow-warriors-2176989.html |access-date=20 June 2021 |work=Indian Express |publisher=Indian Express Group |date=August 2, 2020 |archive-date=1 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601210018/https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2020/aug/02/raw-a-history-of-indias-covert-operations-showcases-indias-shadow-warriors-2176989.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Iran====
In August 1991, R&AW undertook a [[Surveillance#Methods|physical surveillance]] and tracking operation of Indian nationals from [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] that were taking weapons training in [[Qom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/ex-raw-officers-want-pm-act-hamid-ansaris-anti-national-acts|title=Ex-R&AW officers want PM to act against Hamid Ansari's 'anti-national' acts|date=6 July 2019|access-date=9 July 2019|publisher=Sunday Guardian|archive-date=8 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708031124/https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/ex-raw-officers-want-pm-act-hamid-ansaris-anti-national-acts|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Malaysia====
Since 2014, R&AW has undertaken numerous identification, [[Surveillance#Methods|physical surveillance]] and tracking operations,  in Malaysia, targeted towards [[Khalistan movement|Khalistani]] organisations. 
It is only of because such operations that many high-ranking Khalistani militants like Harminder Singh Mintoo, Tara Singh, Kulbir Kaur, Ramandeep Singh etc. have been arrested and deported to India.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/malaysia-sikh-militant-groups-new-base/20100831.htm|title=Malaysia: Sikh militant groups' new base|access-date=31 August 2010|work=Rediff.com|archive-date=27 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627014320/https://www.rediff.com/amp/news/report/malaysia-sikh-militant-groups-new-base/20100831.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/trial-of-raw-agent-in-german-court-casts-spotlight-on-indias-secret-war-against-khalistan-terror-in-europe-2624861.html|title=Trial of 'RAW Agent' in German Court Casts Spotlight on India's Secret War Against Khalistan Terror|access-date=19 May 2020|publisher=News18|archive-date=23 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523080722/https://www.news18.com/amp/news/india/trial-of-raw-agent-in-german-court-casts-spotlight-on-indias-secret-war-against-khalistan-terror-in-europe-2624861.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/malaysian-woman-accused-of-khalistani-terror-funding-arrested-1581721-2019-08-17|title=Malaysian woman accused of Khalistani terror funding arrested|access-date=17 August 2019|publisher=India Today|archive-date=18 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818002643/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/malaysian-woman-accused-of-khalistani-terror-funding-arrested-1581721-2019-08-17|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article-amp/news-ians/deported-from-malaysia-punjab-terrorist-arrested-in-chennai-114110601173_1.html|title=Deported from Malaysia, Punjab terrorist arrested in Chennai|access-date=6 November 2014|publisher=Business Standard|archive-date=8 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408065657/https://www.business-standard.com/article-amp/news-ians/deported-from-malaysia-punjab-terrorist-arrested-in-chennai-114110601173_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Maldives====
{{See also|Operation Cactus}}
In November 1988, the [[People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam]] (PLOTE), composed of about 200 [[Tamil people|Tamil]] secessionist rebels under Abdullah Luthufi, invaded [[Maldives]]. At the request of the president of Maldives, [[Maumoon Abdul Gayoom]], the [[Indian Armed Forces]], with assistance from R&AW, launched a military campaign to throw the mercenaries out of Maldives. On the night of 3 November 1988, the [[Indian Air Force]] airlifted the 6th parachute battalion of the [[Parachute Regiment (India)|Parachute Regiment]] from [[Agra]] and flew them over 2,000&nbsp;km to [[Maldives]]. The Indian paratroopers landed at the airstrip of [[Hulhule]] island and restored the Government rule at [[Malé]] within a day. The operation, labelled [[Operation Cactus]], also involved the [[Indian Navy]]. Swift operation by the military and precise intelligence by R&AW quelled the [[insurgency]].<ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1990s/Cactus.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020330080238/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1990s/Cactus.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 March 2002 |title=Operation Cactus |publisher=Bharat-rakshak.com |date=3 November 1988 |access-date=28 September 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref>

In 2018–19, R&AW undertook many operations that crippled [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] and [[Ministry of State Security (China)|MSS]] intelligence network in Maldives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eurasiantimes.com/raw-stuns-isi-and-mss-spy-agencies-foils-china-pakistan-nexus-in-maldives/|title=RAW Stuns ISI and MSS; Foils China-Pakistan Nexus in Maldives|date=30 June 2019|access-date=30 June 2019|publisher=The Eurasian Times|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212035303/https://eurasiantimes.com/raw-stuns-isi-and-mss-spy-agencies-foils-china-pakistan-nexus-in-maldives/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In December 2024 ''The Washington Post'' reported that R&AW tried (but later dropped the plan altogether as relations started to improve between India and Maldives) to oust Maldivian government because Government of India perceived Maldivian government to be Pro-China.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Shih |first1=Gerry |last2=Roy |first2=Siddharthya |date=30 December 2024 |title=A plot in paradise and India's struggle for influence in Asia |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/30/maldives-president-muizzu-india-china-influence/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241230120422/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/30/maldives-president-muizzu-india-china-influence/ |archive-date=30 December 2024 |access-date=30 December 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> After the publication of ''The Washington Post'' report the Maldivian Foreign Minister in an interview to [[WION]] said (regarding ''The Washington Post'' story) "''very short answer for that. It is totally, something that is untrue, unfounded. There is no truth in that. So it is as simple as that.''" <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sibal |first=Sidhant |date=2025-01-04 |title=India's security is our security: Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maldives-foreign-minister-abdulla-khaleel-says-indias-security-is-our-security-8591399 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501103736/https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maldives-foreign-minister-abdulla-khaleel-says-indias-security-is-our-security-8591399 |archive-date=2025-05-01 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Wion |language=en}}</ref>

====Mauritius====
{{See also|Operation Lal Dora}}
In [[Anerood Jugnauth#1982 elections and first tenure as prime minister|February 1983]], [[Mauritians|Mauritian]] Prime Minister [[Anerood Jugnauth]] requested assistance from Mrs Indira Gandhi in the event of a coup by rival politician [[Paul Bérenger]]. In March 1983, Gandhi ordered the Indian Army and Navy to prepare for a military intervention against a possible coup against the Jugnauth government. But the military intervention was put off by Mrs. Gandhi, after a squabble between the Indian Navy and Army, on who would lead the operation. Instead, she chose to task the Research and Analysis Wing's then chief, Nowsher F. Suntook, with supervising a largely intelligence-led operation to reunite the Indian community of [[Mauritius]] whose fracturing along ideological and communal lines had allowed Mr. Berenger to mount a political challenge.<ref>{{cite book|author=David Brewster|url=https://www.academia.edu/7992843|title=India's Ocean: the Story of India's Bid for Regional Leadership. Retrieved 13 August 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107070526/http://www.academia.edu/7992843/Extract_from_Indias_Ocean_-_Operation_Lal_Dora|archive-date=7 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

====Myanmar====
During the 1990s, R&AW cultivated Burmese rebel groups and pro-democracy coalitions, especially the [[Kachin Independence Army]] (KIA). India allowed the KIA to carry a limited trade in [[jade]] and precious stones using Indian territory and even supplied them weapons. It is further alleged that KIA chief [[Maran Brang Seng]] met the Secretary(R) in Delhi twice. However, when the KIA became the main source of training and weapons for militant groups in Northeast India, R&AW initiated an operation, code named ''Operation Leech'', to assassinate the leaders of the Burmese rebels as an example to other groups. in 1998, six top rebel leaders, including military wing chief of National Unity Party of Arakans (NUPA), Khaing Raza, were shot dead and 34 Arakanese guerrillas were arrested and charged with gunrunning.<ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/><ref>[http://www.india-seminar.com/2005/550/550%20subir%20bhaumik.htm Guns, drugs and rebels] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923193152/http://www.india-seminar.com/2005/550/550%20subir%20bhaumik.htm |date=23 September 2009
 }}. B.B. Nandi, former R&AW additional secretary, interview to author, 6 March 2002.</ref>

In 1995, in [[Mizoram]] along the [[India–Myanmar barrier|India–Myanmar border]], the [[III Corps (India)|57th Mountain Division]] of the [[Indian Army]] carried out the [[Operation Golden Bird]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/mar/23/20070323-103215-4113r/?page=all|title=India seen arming Burma to counter Chinese|work=The Washington Times|access-date=27 July 2020|archive-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308063221/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/mar/23/20070323-103215-4113r/?page=all|url-status=live}}</ref> The operation was launched because R&AW had provided information that a huge consignment of arms for northern eastern had reached to [[Cox's Bazar]] (Bangladesh) and was to be sent to insurgents in [[Manipur]]. The arms, as per intelligence were meant for groups in [[Nagaland]] and [[Isak Chishi Swu|Isak-Muivah]] group in Manipur. Forces were deployed for counterinsurgency in the states of Manipur and Nagaland. Radio sets and other technological instruments were used to intercepts insurgents messages. On 5 April 1995, the Indian troops captured an insurgent named Hathi Bsrvah, trained by Pakistani ISI near Karachi. By 21 May 1995, the operation was finally called off.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h9KGAwAAQBAJ&q=Wyakaung+beach&pg=PA185|title=Troubled Periphery: The Crisis of India's North East By Subir Bhaumik|isbn=9788132104797|last1=Bhaumik|first1=Subir|date=10 December 2009|publisher=SAGE Publications India }}</ref>

In 2015, R&AW and [[Directorate of Military Intelligence (India)|Military Intelligence of Indian Army]] provided the intelligence support to [[Para (Special Forces)|21 Para (SF)]], for their [[2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar|counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scroll.in/article/733855/why-the-modi-government-decided-to-deliberately-leak-information-about-the-myanmar-strikes|title=Why the Modi government decided to deliberately leak information about the Myanmar strikes|date=12 June 2015|access-date=12 June 2015|publisher=Scroll|archive-date=13 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613213913/http://scroll.in/article/733855/why-the-modi-government-decided-to-deliberately-leak-information-about-the-myanmar-strikes|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Nepal ====
In 1998, [[Mirza Dilshad Beg]], a Nepalese parliamentarian and an [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] informant was assassinated by R&AW.<ref name="Defence Lover">{{cite web|url=https://defencelover.in/nepal-and-india-raw/|title=How R&AW Attacked ISI in Nepal And Finished Terrorists|access-date=13 November 2013|publisher=Defence Lover|archive-date=12 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312060039/http://defencelover.in/nepal-and-india-raw/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Assassination of Raju Pargai & Amit Arya|Raju Pargai & Amit Arya]] were shot dead in 2011, who were running [[Mirza Dilshad Beg]]'s entire network in Uttarakhand.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Dehradun Edition |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110910/dun.htm#3 |website=tribuneindia.com |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423083538/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110910/dun.htm#3 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Despite the accusation and arrest of [[Lucky Bisht]], there was not enough evidence to convict him in the murder case, leading to his eventual acquittal.<ref>{{cite news |title=दोहरे हत्याकांड में लकी कमांडो समेत पांचों आरोपी बरी |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttarakhand/haldwani/story-five-accused-including-lucky-commando-in-double-murder-casea-acquitted-1837453.html |work=livehindustan.com |date=7 March 2018 |language=hindi |access-date=21 July 2023 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920041753/https://www.livehindustan.com/uttarakhand/haldwani/story-five-accused-including-lucky-commando-in-double-murder-casea-acquitted-1837453.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/r-a-w-hitman-the-real-story-of-agent-lima-brings-the-interesting-story-of-lucky-bisht/cid/1945689|title=R.A.W Hitman: The real story of Agent Lima brings the interesting story of Lucky Bisht|work=The Telegraph|access-date=21 July 2023|archive-date=19 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719164926/https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/people/r-a-w-hitman-the-real-story-of-agent-lima-brings-the-interesting-story-of-lucky-bisht/cid/1945689|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.india.com/hindi-news/news/delhi/nsg-commando-ex-raw-agent-lucky-bishts-biography-raw-hitman-published-s-hussain-zaidi-is-the-author-6112950/|title=एक्स रॉ एजेंट लकी बिष्ट की ज़िन्दगी से रूबरू होगी दुनिया, एस. हुसैन जैदी ने लिखी 'रॉ हिटमैन' बायोग्राफी|website=www.india.com|access-date=21 July 2023|archive-date=19 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719165113/https://www.india.com/hindi-news/news/delhi/nsg-commando-ex-raw-agent-lucky-bishts-biography-raw-hitman-published-s-hussain-zaidi-is-the-author-6112950/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During 1997–2013, R&AW along with IB carried out multiple operations, in which many militant leaders like [[Yasin Bhatkal]] of [[Indian Mujahideen]]; Bhupinder Singh Bhuda of [[Khalistan Commando Force]]; Tariq Mehmood, Asif Ali, [[Syed Abdul Karim&nbsp;Tunda]], Abu Qasim&nbsp; of [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]]; Fayaz Ahmed Mir of [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] were secretly brought to India.<ref name="Defence Lover"/><ref name="Hindustan Times">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Intelligence-op-that-spanned-3-nations-20-yrs-led-to-Tunda-s-arrest/Article1-1109280.aspx |title=Intelligence op that spanned 3 nations, 20 yrs led to Tunda's arrest |date=18 August 2013 |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=18 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818142147/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Intelligence-op-that-spanned-3-nations-20-yrs-led-to-Tunda-s-arrest/Article1-1109280.aspx |archive-date=18 August 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref name="Terror vet falls into net">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130818/jsp/frontpage/story_17243306.jsp|title=Terror vet falls into net|date=17 August 2013|work=The Telegraph|access-date=18 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821125707/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130818/jsp/frontpage/story_17243306.jsp|archive-date=21 August 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2014, R&AW along with [[Directorate General of Forces Intelligence|DGFI]] tracked down [[Indian Mujahideen]]'s top commander, Zia Ur Rehman in Nepal. The operation was executed by [[Directorate General of Forces Intelligence|DGFI]] after formal request from India's R&AW and Nepal's law enforcement agencies.<ref>{{cite web|date=2 April 2014|title=Bangladesh, Nepal helped India nab IM top guns|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/bangladesh-nepal-helped-india-nab-im-top-guns/story-ScJxf7cONPSefqxK8VxoJL.html|access-date=19 July 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=19 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719080502/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/bangladesh-nepal-helped-india-nab-im-top-guns/story-ScJxf7cONPSefqxK8VxoJL.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, it was reported that R&AW had kidnapped a mid-level ISI officer Lt. Col. Mohammed H Zahir from [[Lumbini]]. There were reports that Zahir was among the ISI team that had taken part in kidnapping and smuggling of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav from [[Chabahar]], Iran to Meshkal Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shah |first=Syed Ali |date=2016-03-24 |title='RAW officer' arrested in Balochistan |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1247665 |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en |archive-date=26 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326070900/http://www.dawn.com/news/1247665 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/vanished-pakistan-officer-was-on-a-sensitive-isi-mission-to-nepal-1372013.html|title=Vanished' Pakistan Officer Was on a 'Sensitive' ISI Mission to Nepal|date=12 April 2017|access-date=12 April 2017|publisher=CNN-News18|archive-date=15 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415161137/http://www.news18.com/amp/news/india/vanished-pakistan-officer-was-on-a-sensitive-isi-mission-to-nepal-1372013.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2022, Mohammad Lal, who was a huge supplier of counterfeit Indian currency was shot dead by two unidentified armed men in Kathmandu. The assailants immediately fled the scene after shooting Lal. R&AW had been looking for Lal for a long time for his alleged connections with [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] and [[D-Company]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaurya |first=Surabhi |date=22 September 2022 |title=Breaking: ISI Agent Laal Mohammad— Biggest Supplier of Fake notes in India Shot Dead in Nepal |url=https://www.india.com/news/world/breaking-isi-agent-laal-mohammad-biggest-supplier-of-fake-notes-in-india-shot-dead-in-nepal-5645822/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=india.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Pakistan====
During the late 1960s, R&AW had infiltrated the highest levels of Pakistani military and political leadership. It even had a [[Mole (espionage)|Mole]] inside General [[Yahya Khan]]'s Office. This mole had also alerted the Indian armed forces, a week before about impending Pakistani Air attack. This alert was correct as Pakistan attacked India on December 3, thus starting [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.bdnews24.com/amp/en/detail/bangladesh/147067|title=Mole and careless Pak army ensured early victory in 1971'|access-date=6 August 2007|publisher=BDnews24|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623015341/https://m.bdnews24.com/amp/en/detail/bangladesh/147067|url-status=live}}</ref>

R&AW's most successful spy [[Ravindra Kaushik]] spied in Pakistan in the 1970s. He was from Rajasthan's [[Sri Ganganagar]], Kaushik was a student and an aspiring actor, he used to do acting on stage. He was acting in a patriotic play in a theatre in Lucknow when R&AW recruiter spotted this young boy. He joined R&AW in 1975 at the age of 23. They trained him, made a disguise identity and sent to Pakistan. He did an LLB in [[Karachi university]] and joined the Pakistani army, eventually he was promoted to the rank of major. Amid 1979-83 he passed valuable information to R&AW. Due to his feats the then Indian prime minister [[Indira Gandhi]] gave him title of "The Black Tiger".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Story of R&AW agent, Ravinder Kaushik, who worked as a Pakistan Army Major - Forgotten hero |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/story-of-raw-agent-ravinder-kaushik-who-worked-as-a-pakistan-army-major/new-identity-in-pak/slideshow/58240717.cms |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=The Economic Times |archive-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125093651/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/story-of-raw-agent-ravinder-kaushik-who-worked-as-a-pakistan-army-major/new-identity-in-pak/slideshow/58240717.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Aditya |date=10 August 2022 |title=... Remembering Ravindra Kaushik's... |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/in-focus/indias-soldiers-in-shadows-remembering-ravindra-kaushiks-supreme-sacrifice-for-nation-all-you-need-to-know-about-black-tiger-article-93461316/amp |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=[[Times Now]] |archive-date=25 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125095323/https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/in-focus/indias-soldiers-in-shadows-remembering-ravindra-kaushiks-supreme-sacrifice-for-nation-all-you-need-to-know-about-black-tiger-article-93461316/amp |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kahuta is the site of the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Pakistan's main nuclear weapons laboratory as well as an emerging centre for long-range missile development. The primary Pakistani missile-material production facility is located at [[Kahuta]], employing gas centrifuge enrichment technology to produce Highly Enriched [[Uranium]] (HEU). R&AW first confirmed Pakistan's nuclear programs by analysing the hair samples snatched from the floor of barber shops near KRL; which showed that Pakistan had developed the ability to enrich uranium to weapons-grade quality. R&AW operatives knew about [[Kahuta Research Laboratories]] from at least early 1978,<ref>{{cite book|author=Robert Hutchinson|title=Weapons of Mass Destruction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tluk-CiKERwC&pg=PT136|year=2003|publisher=Orion|isbn=978-1-78022-377-3|page=136|quote=In a stunning intelligence coup, India apparently first learned of Pakistan's programmed by analyzing the hair samples snatched from the floor of barber shops near the Pakistani nuclear research facility at Kahuta. India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, sent the samples to New Delhi's BHABHA Atomic Research Center, which discovered clear indications from analysis of the hair, that Pakistan had developed the ability to enrich uranium to weapons-grade quality}}</ref> when the then Indian Prime Minister, [[Morarji Desai]], accidentally exposed R&AW's operations on [[Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction|Pakistan's covert nuclear weapons program]]. In an indiscreet moment in a telephone conversation one day, Morarji Desai informed the then Pakistan President, [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|Zia-ul-Haq]], that India was aware of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. According to later reports, acting on this "tip-off", Pakistan's ISI and army eliminated most of R&AW's assets in and around Kahuta.<ref name="Federation of American Scientists"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/08spec.htm |title=RAW & MOSSAD: The Secret Link |work=Rediff.com |date=8 September 2003 |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912075501/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/08spec.htm |archive-date=12 September 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>According to 18–24 September 1988 issue of the weekly Indian Magazine Sunday</ref>

R&AW received information from one of its informants in a London-based company, which had supplied Arctic-weather gear to Indian troops in [[Ladakh]] that some Pakistan paramilitary forces had bought similar Arctic-weather gear.<ref name="time">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501050711/story2.html |magazine=Time |title=War at the Top of the World |date=7 November 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414200007/http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501050711/story2.html |archive-date=14 April 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref> This information was shared with Indian Army which soon launched [[Operation Meghdoot]] to take control of Siachen Glacier with around 300<ref name="time"/> acclimatised troops were airlifted to Siachen before Pakistan could launch any operation resulting in Indian head start and eventual Indian domination of all major peaks in Siachen.<ref name="time"/>

In the mid-1980s, R&AW set up two special units, ''Counterintelligence Team-X(CIT-X)'' and ''Counterintelligence Team-J(CIT-J)'', the first directed at [[Pakistan]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsline.com.pk/NewsJul2007/bookmarkjuly.htm |title=The 'Jihad' Against India |publisher=Newsline.com.pk |access-date=28 September 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071202125431/http://www.newsline.com.pk/NewsJul2007/bookmarkjuly.htm| archive-date = 2 December 2007}}</ref> and the second at [[Khalistan]]i groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/sarabjit-singh-and-the-spies-india-left-out-in-the-cold-734703.html|title=Sarabjit Singh, and the spies India left out in the cold|author=Praveen Swami|date=28 April 2013|work=First Post|access-date=28 April 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531231211/http://www.firstpost.com/india/sarabjit-singh-and-the-spies-we-left-out-in-the-cold-734703.html|archive-date=31 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Rabinder Singh (intelligence officer)|Rabinder Singh]], the R&AW officer who later [[defection|defected]] to the United States in 2004, helped run CIT-J in its early years. Both these covert units used the services of cross-border traffickers to ferry weapons and funds across the border, much as their [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] counterparts were doing. According to former R&AW official and noted security analyst B. Raman, the Indian counter-campaign yielded results. "The role of our cover action capability in putting an end to the ISI's interference and support of khalistani militants in Punjab, thus completely stopping years of violence and insurgency", he wrote in 2002, "by making such interference prohibitively costly is little known and understood." These covert groups were disbanded during the tenure of [[IK Gujral]] and were never restarted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2219/stories/20050923004503000.htm |title=Covert contestation |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=12 March 1972 |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110212607/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2219/stories/20050923004503000.htm |archive-date=10 January 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> As per [[Bahukutumbi Raman|B Raman]] a former R&AW [[Additional Secretary to Government of India|Additional Secretary]], these covert groups were successful in keeping a check on [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] and were "responsible for ending the Khalistani insurgency".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2219/stories/20050923004503000.htm|title=Covert contestation|publisher=hinduonnet.com|access-date=25 March 2016|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811061637/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2219/stories/20050923004503000.htm|archive-date=11 August 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264366|title=Under Cover of Deniability|work=News report|access-date=25 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502201825/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264366|archive-date=2 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

During the mid-1990s, R&AW undertook an operation to infiltrate various [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]]-backed militant groups in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. R&AW operatives infiltrated the area, collected military intelligence, and provided evidence about [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]]'s involvement in training and funding separatist groups. R&AW was successful not only in unearthing the links, but also in infiltrating and neutralising the terrorism in the Kashmir valley.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/kashmir/Story/0,2763,722049,00.html|title=Dangerous game of state-sponsored terror that threatens nuclear conflict|access-date=5 May 2006|first=Rory|last=McCarthy|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=25 May 2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814175215/https://www.theguardian.com/kashmir/Story/0,2763,722049,00.html|archive-date=14 August 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/irp/world/pakistan/isi/ |title=Directorate for ISI article on FAS, Intelligence Resource Program |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611053322/https://fas.org/irp/world/pakistan/isi/ |archive-date=11 June 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> It is also credited for creating a split in the [[Hizb-ul-Mujahideen]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kashmirtelegraph.com/raw.htm |title=R A W: Kashmir & Beyond|work=The Kashmir Telegraph |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202033300/http://www.kashmirtelegraph.com/raw.htm |archive-date=2 December 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Operation Chanakya also marked the creation of pro-Indian groups in Kashmir like the Ikhwan-ul-Muslimeen, Muslim Mujahideen etc. These [[counterinsurgency|counter-insurgencies]] consist of ex-militants and relatives of those slain in the conflict. Ikhwan-ul-Muslimeen leader Kokka Parrey was himself assassinated by separatists.<ref name="FAsummary"/>

During the [[Kargil War]], R&AW was also successful in intercepting a telephonic conversation between [[Pervez Musharraf]], the then Pakistan Army Chief who was in Beijing and his chief of staff Lt. Gen. Mohammed Aziz in [[Islamabad]].<ref name="india-seminar.com">{{cite web |author=Subir Bhaumik |url=http://www.india-seminar.com/2005/550/550%20subir%20bhaumik.htm |title=550, Subir Bhaumik, Guns, drugs and rebels |publisher=India-seminar.com |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923193152/http://www.india-seminar.com/2005/550/550%20subir%20bhaumik.htm |archive-date=23 September 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> This tape was later published by India to prove Pakistani involvement in the Kargil incursion.<ref name="india-seminar.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02spec3.htm |title=A RAW hand: Rediff.com news |work=Rediff.com |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315153842/http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02spec3.htm |archive-date=15 March 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 2004, it had come to light that a timely tip-off by R&AW helped foil a third assassination plot against Pakistan's former president, General [[Pervez Musharraf]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-raw-intelligence-saved-prez-musharraf-s-life-in-2004-2101535|title=R&AW intelligence saved Prez Musharraf's life in 2004|date=4 July 2015|publisher=DNA|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004142601/https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-raw-intelligence-saved-prez-musharraf-s-life-in-2004-2101535|url-status=live}}</ref>

About 2–6 months before [[26/11 Mumbai attacks]], R&AW had intercepted several telephone calls through SIGINT which pointed at impending attacks on Mumbai Hotels by Pakistan-based terrorists,<ref>[http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/57012.html India's lack of preparedness raised Mumbai death toll] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414152741/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/57012.html |date=14 April 2009 }}</ref> however there was a coordination failure and no follow up action was taken.<ref>[https://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2009/RAND_OP249.pdf Lessons of Mumbai] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004044642/http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2009/RAND_OP249.pdf |date=4 October 2012 }}, Rand Corporation, p19</ref> Few hours before the attacks, a R&AW technician monitoring satellite transmissions picked up conversations between attackers and handlers, as the attackers were sailing toward Mumbai. The technician flagged the conversations as being suspicious and passed them on to his superiors. R&AW believed that they were worrying and immediately alerted the office of the National Security Advisor. However the intelligence was ignored.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.virsanghvi.com/CounterPoint-ArticleDetail.aspx?ID=474|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427083702/http://www.virsanghvi.com/CounterPoint-ArticleDetail.aspx?ID=474|url-status=dead|title=Virsanghvi.com|archive-date=27 April 2010}}</ref> Later, just after the terrorists had attacked Mumbai, the technicians started monitoring the six phones used by the terrorists and recorded conversations between the terrorists and their handlers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/archive-news/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426101803/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Why-politicians-won-t-get-off-the-line/H1-Article1-535365.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Hindustan Times - Archive News|archive-date=26 April 2010|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

In March 2016, [[Kulbhushan Jadhav]], an Indian naval officer who working as a R&AW agent, was arrested in [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] and charged with espionage and sabotage. He was accused of operating a [[covert]] terror network within Balochistan. In 2017, he was [[sentenced to death]] by a Field General Court Martial in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Timeline: How the Kulbhushan Jadhav saga unfolded |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1493236 |work=DAWN |date=17 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Kulbhushan Jadhav? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-is-kulbhushan-jadhav-the-hindu-explains/article61594966.ece |work=The Hindu |date=10 April 2017 |language=en-IN |quote=Kulbhushan Jadhav was allegedly arrested in the Chaman area of Balochistan on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on March 3, 2016.  Pakistan said he was a serving Indian naval officer and accused him of working for India's Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).}}</ref><ref name="Spy">{{cite news |last1=Masood |first1=Salman |last2=Kumar |first2=Hari |title=Pakistan Sentences Indian Spy to Death for Operating Terrorism Ring |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/world/asia/pakistan-india-death-sentence-spy-kulbhushan-yadav.html |work=The New York Times |date=10 April 2017}}</ref> While held by Pakistani authorities, Jadhav had confessed in a video recording that he was tasked by R&AW, “to plan and organise espionage and sabotage activities” in Balochistan and [[Karachi]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Transcript of R&AW agent Kulbhushan's confessional statement |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1248786 |work=DAWN.COM |date=30 March 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Spy"/>

During the [[2016 Indian Line of Control strike|2016 Line of Control strike]], R&AW played an important role by providing real time and accurate intelligence to operational advisors and planners. It had deployed its human assets closest to the 8 demarcated launch-pads in Pakistan administered Kashmir. It also started Physical Surveillance of [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Pakistan army]], 10 Corps commander and force commander of Northern Areas.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyo.in/lite/politics/surgical-strikes-narendra-modi-indian-army-india-pak-nawaz-sharif-line-of-control-pok-kashmir-baramulla/story/1/13303.html|title=[Exclusive] Inside story of India's daring surgical strikes against Pakistan|access-date=9 October 2016|publisher=DailyO|archive-date=14 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014232326/http://www.dailyo.in/lite/politics/surgical-strikes-narendra-modi-indian-army-india-pak-nawaz-sharif-line-of-control-pok-kashmir-baramulla/story/1/13303.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During [[2019 Balakot airstrike]], R&AW played an important role by identifying and providing intelligence on Markaz Syed Ahmad Shaheed training camp, to operational planners. It had [[Human intelligence (intelligence gathering)|HUMINT]] that a large number of terrorists had congregated in the camp.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/interview/moles-at-terror-camps-sent-info-for-balakot-strike/20191023.htm|title=Moles inside terror camps sent info for Balakot strike|access-date=23 October 2019|work=Rediff.com|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415024145/https://www.rediff.com/amp/news/interview/moles-at-terror-camps-sent-info-for-balakot-strike/20191023.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20190325-balakot-airstrikes-pulwama-terror-attack-abhinandan-varthaman-narendra-modi-masood-azhar-1478511-2019-03-15|title=Balakot: How India planned IAF airstrike in Pakistan|date=15 March 2019 |access-date=25 March 2019|publisher=India Today|archive-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326002024/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/magazine/cover-story/story/20190325-balakot-airstrikes-pulwama-terror-attack-abhinandan-varthaman-narendra-modi-masood-azhar-1478511-2019-03-15|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 1 March 2022,&nbsp;one of the hijackers of [[Indian Airlines Flight 814|Flight IC 814]] flight, Zahoor Mistry, was killed by two bike-borne assailants in Karachi. It was Mistry who had killed one of the passengers, 25-year-old [[Rupin Katyal]], on the flight. It is widely believed he was assassinated by R&AW.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indianexpress.com/article/india/ic-814-hijacker-zahoor-mistry-killed-in-pakistan-7809422/lite/|title=IC 814 hijacker Zahoor Mistry killed in Pakistan, Masood Azhar's brother attends funeral: Reports|date=9 March 2022|access-date=9 March 2022|publisher=The Indian Express|archive-date=9 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309073322/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ic-814-hijacker-zahoor-mistry-killed-in-pakistan-7809422/lite/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |last2=Hassan |first2=Aakash |last3=Baloch |first3=Shah Meer |date=2024-04-04 |title=Indian government ordered killings in Pakistan, intelligence officials claim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/04/indian-government-assassination-allegations-pakistan-intelligence-officials |access-date=2024-04-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On 20 February 2023, [[Hizbul Mujahideen|Hizbul]] Commander Bashir Ahmad Peer alias Imtiyaz Alam who was India's most wanted designated terrorist under [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] was shot dead outside a store by unknown assailants in Rawalpindi. It is widely believed that R&AW was behind this.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wanted In India, Top Hizbul Commander Killed In Pakistan |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/wanted-in-india-top-hizbul-commander-killed-in-pakistan-3802474 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=NDTV.com |archive-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621121512/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/wanted-in-india-top-hizbul-commander-killed-in-pakistan-3802474 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 6, 2023, [[Paramjit Singh Panjwar]], the Chief of [[Khalistan Commando Force]] was gunned down by two unidentified bike-borne gunmen in Johar Town of Lahore while he was out for a morning walk near his residence. Most likely it is believed he was assassinated by R&AW operative.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Khalistan Commando Force chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar, wanted by India, gunned down in Pakistan |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/paramjit-singh-panjwar-terrorist-wanted-by-india-gunned-down-in-pakistan-report-589648 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=WION |date=6 May 2023 |language=en-us |archive-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621123957/https://www.wionews.com/india-news/paramjit-singh-panjwar-terrorist-wanted-by-india-gunned-down-in-pakistan-report-589648 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 4, 2024, The Guardian reported that the Indian government had allegedly ordered the killings of individuals in Pakistan. Up to 20 assassinations had taken place since 2020, targeting individuals who were either linked to known terrorist organizations or were former members of these organizations.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |last2=Hassan |first2=Aakash |last3=Baloch |first3=Shah Meer |date=2024-04-04 |title=Indian government ordered killings in Pakistan, intelligence officials claim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/04/indian-government-assassination-allegations-pakistan-intelligence-officials |access-date=2024-05-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On March 16, 2025, Multiple news outlets reported that a top LeT(Lashkar-e-Taiba) commander named Abu Qatal Sindhi was killed by ‘unknown gunmen’ in the Jhelum area of Pakistan. Sindhi was a key LeT operative responsible for coordinating several major attacks in the Rajouri-Poonch region along [[Line of Control]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Philip |first=Snehesh Alex |date=2025-03-16 |title=‘Unknown gunmen’ strike Hafiz Saeed’s close aide Sindhi in Pakistan; was behind Poonch-Rajouri attacks |url=https://theprint.in/defence/unknown-gunmen-strike-hafiz-saeeds-close-aide-sindhi-in-pakistan-was-behind-poonch-rajouri-attacks/2549720/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250410102820/https://theprint.in/defence/unknown-gunmen-strike-hafiz-saeeds-close-aide-sindhi-in-pakistan-was-behind-poonch-rajouri-attacks/2549720/ |archive-date=2025-04-10 |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Philippines ====

In March 2023, with the help of Indian intelligence inputs, officers from the [[Bureau of Immigration (Philippines)|Philippine Bureau of Immigration]], the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the [[National Intelligence Coordinating Agency]] arrested three suspected members of the [[Khalistani groups|Khalistan Tiger Force]] (KTF) in the central Philippine city of [[Iloilo City|Iloilo]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-27 |title=Philippines arrests suspected Sikh separatists in first Khalistan detection |url=https://arab.news/bumtv |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-29 |title=3 suspected members of Khalistan Tiger Force arrested in the Philippines |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/3-suspected-members-khalistan-tiger-force-arrested-philippines-8525167/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701033125/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/3-suspected-members-khalistan-tiger-force-arrested-philippines-8525167/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The suspects were deported back to India in May 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/5/19/ph-deports-suspected-indian-terrorist.html | title=PH deports suspected Indian terrorists | access-date=20 September 2023 | archive-date=3 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003233052/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/5/19/ph-deports-suspected-indian-terrorist.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Saudi Arabia====
Since the 1990s, given its position as the largest source of funds and promoter of [[Salafi jihadism|Salafist]] ideology and being considered major security challenge for India. R&AW has greatly expanded its activities and operation in Saudi Arabia. [[Syed Abdul Karim Tunda|Abdul Karim Tunda]] was captured in Saudi Arabia and was secretly brought to India.<ref name="Hindustan Times"/>

Since 2012, R&AW has carried out numerous operations in Saudi Arabia. It is only because of such operations that dozens of high-ranking terrorists like [[Zabiuddin Ansari]], Habibur Rahman, [[Sabeel Ahmed]], Muhammed Gulnawaz etc. have been deported and arrested in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/of-24-terror-suspects-turned-in-by-gulf-countries-to-india-since-2012-18-are-from-uae-and-saudi/story-225ND6iIOaWrD9mYZYRFLL.html|title=Of 24 terror suspects turned in by Gulf countries to India since 2012, 18 are from UAE and Saudi|date=24 August 2018|publisher=Hindustan Times|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004165801/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/of-24-terror-suspects-turned-in-by-gulf-countries-to-india-since-2012-18-are-from-uae-and-saudi/story-225ND6iIOaWrD9mYZYRFLL_amp.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/terror-case-accused-deported-from-saudi-held-from-airport/articleshow/78241881.cms|title=Terror case accused deported from Saudi, held from airport|date=22 September 2020|publisher=Times Of India|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926124020/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/terror-case-accused-deported-from-saudi-held-from-airport/articleshow/78241881.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indianexpress.com/article/india/deported-from-saudi-let-terror-recruiter-held-by-nia-6575605/lite/|title=Deported from Saudi, LeT 'terror recruiter' held by NIA|date=30 August 2020|publisher=Indian Express|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004150725/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/deported-from-saudi-let-terror-recruiter-held-by-nia-6575605/lite/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/abu-jundal-aurangabad-arms-haul-case-life-imprisonment-2949408/lite/|title=Abu Jundal, 6 others sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case|date=2 August 2016|publisher=Indian Express|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004152229/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/abu-jundal-aurangabad-arms-haul-case-life-imprisonment-2949408/lite/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2023 the Saudi cabinet gave approval for joint cooperation with Indian intelligence agencies. It also approved Riyadh's status as a dialogue partner for SCO as India prepares to host the SCO summit in July. India-Saudi defence and security partnership has been steadily growing. Last year, there were a number of high-level bilateral visits and meetings, beginning in February with the first-ever official visit to India by Lt Gen Fahd bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair, commander of [[Royal Saudi Land Forces]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Abhinandan |date=2023-04-01 |title=Saudi, Indian intelligence come together to combat terrorism |url=https://sundayguardianlive.com/news/saudi-indian-intelligence-come-together-to-combat-terrorism |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=The Sunday Guardian Live |language=en-US |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630210705/https://sundayguardianlive.com/news/saudi-indian-intelligence-come-together-to-combat-terrorism |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chaudhury |first=Dipanjan Roy |date=2023-04-01 |title=Saudi cabinet okays cooperation with Indian intelligence agencies |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/saudi-cabinet-okays-cooperation-with-indian-intelligence-agencies/articleshow/99155102.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-06-30 |issn=0013-0389 |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630210703/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/saudi-cabinet-okays-cooperation-with-indian-intelligence-agencies/articleshow/99155102.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Sri Lanka====
In the late 1980s, R&AW allegedly started funding and training [[LTTE]] to keep a check on [[Sri Lanka]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.niticentral.com/2013/08/25/madras-cafe-brings-back-memories-123664.html |title=Madras Cafe brings back memories &#124; Niti Central |access-date=2013-08-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827022835/http://www.niticentral.com/2013/08/25/madras-cafe-brings-back-memories-123664.html |archive-date=27 August 2013 }} Madras Cafe brings back memories by [[Tavleen Singh]]</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2020}} which had helped Pakistan in the [[Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts|Indo-Pak War]] by allowing Pakistani ships to refuel at Sri Lankan ports. However, when LTTE created a lot of problems and complications for India, R&AW switched sides and started providing intelligence support to Sri Lanka. When Prime Minister of India [[Rajiv Gandhi]] was forced to send the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] (IPKF) under [[Operation Pawan]] in 1987 to restore normalcy in the region. The disastrous mission of the IPKF was blamed by many on the lack of coordination between the IPKF and R&AW. Its most disastrous manifestation was the [[Jaffna University Helidrop|Heliborne assault on LTTE HQ]] in the [[Jaffna University]] campus in the opening stages of [[Operation Pawan]]. The dropping [[paratroopers]] became easy targets for the LTTE. A number of soldiers were killed. The [[assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]]  ended India's involvement in Sri Lankan Civil war.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

In 2010, R&AW carried out a snatch operation in Sri Lanka, in which a top [[HuJI]] militant Sheikh Abdul Khawaja &ndash; handler of the [[26/11]] Mumbai terror attackers was captured and secretly taken away to India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/india/26-11-attacks-handler-arrested/story-YHnOhmpBbT7dL1uwp7yTbL.html|title=26/11 attacks handler arrested|date=18 January 2010|access-date=19 January 2010|publisher=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

In 2015, it was allegedly reported by the Sri Lankan newspaper [[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|The Sunday Times]], that R&AW had played a role in uniting the opposition, to bring about the defeat of [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]]. There had been growing concern in the Indian government, on the increasing influence of economic and military rival China in Sri Lankan affairs. Rajapaksa further upped the ante by allowing 2 Chinese submarines to dock in 2014, without informing India, in spite of a stand still agreement to this effect between India and Sri Lanka. The growing Chinese tilt of Rajapaksa was viewed by India with unease. Further, it was alleged, that R&AW's [[Station chief|Chief of Station]] in Colombo, helped coordination of talks within the opposition, and convincing former PM [[Ranil Wickremasinghe]] not to stand against Rajapaksa, but to choose a common opposition candidate, who had better chances of winning. The [[Station chief]] was also alleged to have been in touch with [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]], who played a key role in convincing [[Maithripala Sirisena]] to be the common candidate.<ref name=Chalmers-Miglani>{{cite news|last1=Chalmers|first1=John|last2=Miglani|first2=Sanjeev|title=Indian spy's role alleged in Sri Lankan president's election defeat|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-election-india-insight-idUSKBN0KR03020150118|access-date=2 February 2015|work=Reuters|issue=US|date=17 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203032640/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/18/us-sri-lanka-election-india-insight-idUSKBN0KR03020150118|archive-date=3 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However these allegations were denied by the [[Government of India|Indian Government]]<ref name="HT">{{cite news|title=India denies RAW deal in Sri Lanka's recent elections|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/intel-agencies-deny-raw-official-s-hand-in-rajapaksa-s-defeat/article1-1308061.aspx|access-date=2 February 2015|issue=New Delhi|work=Hindustan Times|date=19 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130024310/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/intel-agencies-deny-raw-official-s-hand-in-rajapaksa-s-defeat/article1-1308061.aspx|archive-date=30 January 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and the [[Sri Lankan Foreign Minister]] [[Mangala Samaraweera]].<ref name=DM.LK>{{cite news|title=SL election won by the people, not by RAW-Mangala|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/61561/sri-lankan-election-won-by-the-people-not-by-raw-mangala|access-date=2 February 2015|work=Daily Mirror|date=19 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203032451/http://www.dailymirror.lk/61561/sri-lankan-election-won-by-the-people-not-by-raw-mangala|archive-date=3 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2018/11/03/spies-rule-the-roost.amp.html|title=Spies rule the roast|date=11 November 2018|publisher=The Week|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=20 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920041038/https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2018/11/03/spies-rule-the-roost.amp.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Before the [[2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings|2019 Easter bombings]], R&AW had issued precision intelligence warnings to its [[State Intelligence Service (Sri Lanka)|Sri Lankan counterpart]] about an impending terrorist attack. All of these warnings were based on [[Human intelligence (intelligence gathering)|HUMINT]] gathered by it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-sent-three-alerts-to-sri-lanka-before-attack/story-o4UxdS30demqRFwMRwxE2O.html|title=India's first alert sent to Lanka 17 days before deadly bombing, then 2 more|access-date=22 April 2019|publisher=Hindustan Times|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424031058/https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-sent-three-alerts-to-sri-lanka-before-attack/story-o4UxdS30demqRFwMRwxE2O_amp.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/sri-lanka-bomb-blasts-precision-intelligence-warnings-on-colombo-were-ignored-documents-show-6496211.html/amp|title=Sri Lanka bomb blasts: Precision intelligence warnings on Colombo were ignored, documents show|access-date=22 April 2019|publisher=First Post|archive-date=22 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422195614/https://www.firstpost.com/world/sri-lanka-bomb-blasts-precision-intelligence-warnings-on-colombo-were-ignored-documents-show-6496211.html/amp|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, R&AW was also able to infiltrate [[People's Liberation Army|PLA]] [[Military communications|communication]] through the Chinese military to Sri Lanka. It was because of this that the post was vacant for nearly 8–9 months; the attache was called back after Chinese had learned of this infiltration.

====Tajikistan====
In the mid-1990s, after the rise of Pakistan backed [[Taliban]] in Afghanistan, India started supporting the Northern Alliance. In order to provide support, India had acquired [[Farkhor Air Base]]. This airbase was used by R&AW, along with [[Directorate of Military Intelligence (India)|M.I.]], as a base of operations for all their activities directed to Afghanistan like covert paramilitary operations and [[Human intelligence (intelligence gathering)|HUMINT]] gathering. The airbase was also used by [[Aviation Research Centre|ARC]] and [[Directorate of Air Intelligence]] (DAI), to provide aerial reconnaissance to Northern Alliance.<ref name="farkhor"/>

====Turkey====
During the [[2015 G20 Antalya summit]], the R&AW station in [[Ankara]] increased its strength in order to provide additional security cover for visiting PM Modi, along with [[Special Protection Group|SPG]]. Officers from [[MI5]] and [[Mossad]] were also deployed to provide Security as part of liaison agreement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Mossad-MI5-roped-in-to-shield-Prime-Minister-Narendra-Modi-in-Turkey/articleshow/49786782.cms|title=Mossad, MI5 roped in to shield Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Turkey?|date=15 November 2015|publisher=Times of India|access-date=29 June 2020|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517081759/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mossad-mi5-roped-in-to-shield-prime-minister-narendra-modi-in-turkey/articleshow/49786782.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Australia ===
A detailed report from ''The Washington Post'' and ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' revealed R&AW's deep operations in the country. Australian authorities expelled two Indian intelligence operatives in 2020 for being members of an elaborate “nest of spies” that attempted to steal sensitive information about defence technology, major airport security and trade relationships.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Knott |first=Matthew |date=2024-04-30 |title=Indian spies booted out of Australia for trying to steal sensitive information |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/indian-spies-booted-out-of-australia-for-trying-to-steal-sensitive-information-20240430-p5fnol.html |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2024-04-29 |title=An assassination plot on American soil reveals a darker side of Modi's India |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/29/india-assassination-raw-sikhs-modi/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}}</ref>

[[Australian Security Intelligence Organisation|ASIO]] Director-General Mike Burgess revealed in 2021 that [[Australian Security Intelligence Organisation|ASIO]] had uncovered a “nest of spies” from R&AW, whose operations included grooming politicians and a foreign embassy as informants and R&AW had also recruited an Australia government official with security clearance.<ref name=":1" />

===Europe===
====Belgium====
In 2021, R&AW is reported to have foiled an assassination plot hatched by [[Khalistan Commando Force]] militants from Belgium and United Kingdom, to target farmers' leader protesting at Delhi.<ref>{{cite web|author=ANI|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/khalistani-terrorists-planning-to-kill-a-farmer-leader-intelligence-agencies-11613547238202.html|title=Khalistani terrorists from Belgium, UK planning to kill a farmer leader: intelligence agencies|date=17 February 2021|access-date=17 February 2021|publisher=Mint|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217082040/https://www.livemint.com/news/india/khalistani-terrorists-planning-to-kill-a-farmer-leader-intelligence-agencies/amp-11613547238202.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Plan to eliminate a farmer leader by Khalistani terrorist organisation leaders from Belgium, UK tracked by Central intel agencies|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/plan-to-eliminate-a-farmer-leader-by-khalistani-terrorist-organisation-leaders-from-belgium-uk-tracked-by-central-intel-agencies20210217124843/|access-date=2021-12-24|website=ANI News|language=en|archive-date=24 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224125221/https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/plan-to-eliminate-a-farmer-leader-by-khalistani-terrorist-organisation-leaders-from-belgium-uk-tracked-by-central-intel-agencies20210217124843/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Germany====
Since 2014, R&AW has undertaken numerous physical surveillance, identification and tracking operations in Germany, targeted towards Khalistani militants and Islamic fundamentalists. It has aggressively recruited agents inside pro-Khalistan circles all across Germany, in cities like [[Frankfurt]] and [[Berlin]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/trial-of-raw-agent-in-german-court-casts-spotlight-on-indias-secret-war-against-khalistan-terror-in-europe-2624861.html|title=Trial of 'R&AW Agent' in German Court Casts Spotlight on India's Secret War Against Khalistan Terror in Europe|access-date=19 May 2019|publisher=News18|archive-date=23 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523080722/https://www.news18.com/amp/news/india/trial-of-raw-agent-in-german-court-casts-spotlight-on-indias-secret-war-against-khalistan-terror-in-europe-2624861.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The latest [[surveillance]] operation was undertaken in 2019, with target being Gurmeet Singh Bagga, co-leader of the [[Khalistan Zindabad Force]] and a fugitive wanted for the [[Khalistan Zindabad Force#Status|Punjab drone Arms drop Case]].<ref name="auto1"/>

====Italy====
After [[26/11]], it was uncovered that Pakistan's [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] had not only laundered large amount of money for the attack but also arranged [[Voice over IP|VOIP]] calls that allowed the handlers to talk to the militants through the Italian city of [[Brescia]].

So in order to counter these activities,  R&AW established a new station in [[Rome]].
Since then, it has undertaken hundreds of operations, directed towards [[Clandestine cell system|Sleeper cells]]/[[Espionage § Agents in espionage|operative]]s of Pakistan-based Islamic and Khalistani militant organisations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/italy-the-latest-isi-outpost-6010711.html/amp|title=Italy: The latest ISI outpost|publisher=First Post|access-date=1 February 2019|archive-date=27 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427175127/https://www.firstpost.com/world/italy-the-latest-isi-outpost-6010711.html/amp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/amp/sikh-extremists-in-canada-the-uk-and-italy-are-working-with-isi-or-independently/299753|title=Sikh Extremists In Canada, The UK And Italy Are Working With ISI Or Independently|access-date=1 February 2018|publisher=Outlook|archive-date=3 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203090858/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/amp/sikh-extremists-in-canada-the-uk-and-italy-are-working-with-isi-or-independently/299753|url-status=live}}</ref> It has also aggressively recruited agents inside Pro-Khalistan circles all across Italy<ref name="auto1"/>

====United Kingdom====

During the 1980s, R&AW launched an extensive operation in London to neutralise UK-based Pakistani national Abdul Khan, who had played an instrumental role in sheltering extremists and planning attacks in India.<ref name="The New Indian Express">{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2020/Aug/02/raw-a-history-of-indias-covert-operations-showcases-indias-shadow-warriors-2176989.html|title=R&AW: A History of India's Covert Operations' showcases India's shadow warriors|date=2 August 2020|publisher=The New Indian Express|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=20 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920033749/https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2020/aug/02/raw-a-history-of-indias-covert-operations-showcases-indias-shadow-warriors-2176989.amp|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since the suppression and defeat of [[Insurgency in Punjab|Khalistani insurgency]] in the late 1990s, R&AW has greatly expanded its informant network inside Khalistani circles and associations in the UK. Wanted Khalistanis like Paramjeet Singh Pamma and Kuldeep Singh Chaheru&nbsp;have been living in UK since they fled in 1992, thus necessitating increased R&AW presence.{{according to whom|date=November 2021}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/know-all-about-the-2-prominent-khalistani-extremists-who-led-anti-india-rally-in-london-amid-farmers-protest-in-india-1747912-2020-12-09|title=Know all about the 2 prominent 'Khalistani extremists' who led anti-India rally in London amid farmers' protest in India|date=9 December 2020|publisher=India Today|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=20 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920035415/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/know-all-about-the-2-prominent-khalistani-extremists-who-led-anti-india-rally-in-london-amid-farmers-protest-in-india-1747912-2020-12-09|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/><ref name="The New Indian Express"/>

On 15 June 2023, Avtar Singh Khanda, the UK-based chief of the [[Khalistan Liberation Force]] (KLF) was suddenly admitted to the hospital with a case of blood cancer, and later died. His followers in the UK believe that Indian intelligence had him poisoned and are demanding the full medical report.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK-based Khalistan Liberation Force chief on life support in London, poisoning suspected |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/khalistan-liberation-force-chief-avtar-singh-khanda-poisoned-life-support-at-hospital-in-london-2393179-2023-06-15 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=India Today |date=15 June 2023 |language=en |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630210703/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/khalistan-liberation-force-chief-avtar-singh-khanda-poisoned-life-support-at-hospital-in-london-2393179-2023-06-15 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-15 |title=Amritpal Singh's close aide Avtar Singh Khanda dies in UK |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/amritpal-singhs-close-aide-and-khalistan-sympathiser-avtar-singh-khanda-dies-in-uk-11686802631976.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=mint |language=en |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630210703/https://www.livemint.com/news/india/amritpal-singhs-close-aide-and-khalistan-sympathiser-avtar-singh-khanda-dies-in-uk-11686802631976.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===North America===

====Canada====
Kanishka Bombing case: On 23 June 1985 Air India's [[Air India Flight 182|Flight 182]] was blown up near Ireland and 329 people died. On the same day, another explosion took place at Tokyo's Narita airport's transit baggage building where baggage was being transferred from Cathay Pacific Flight No CP 003 to [[Air India Flight 301]] which was scheduled for [[Bangkok]]. Both aircraft were loaded with explosives from Canadian airports. Flight 301 got saved because of a delay in its departure. This was considered as a major setback to R&AW for failing to gather enough intelligence about the [[Babbar Khalsa|Khalistani militants]].<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/airindia/documents/tab1.pdf CBC]. Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had obtained permission to tape Parmar's phone on the basis that he was the leader of the Babbar Khalsa. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319070406/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/airindia/documents/tab1.pdf |date=19 March 2009 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061004011415/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060925/airindia_inquiry_060925/20060925?hub=TopStories Air India witness describes impact of wife's death]. Last visited on 12 September 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/airindia Air India In depth]. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060810064513/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/airindia |date=10 August 2006 }}</ref>

In April 2020, it was reported that R&AW and [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]] had launched an extensive operation in 2009–2015, to influence the Canadian government and politicians into supporting India's interests.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6823170/canadian-politicians-targeted-indian-intelligence/|title=Canadian politicians were targets of Indian intelligence covert influence operation: document|date=17 April 2020|publisher=Global News|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=15 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415094608/https://globalnews.ca/news/6823170/canadian-politicians-targeted-indian-intelligence/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Canada has long being accused by India for being a safe haven for Khalistani separatists.<ref>{{cite news|title=Canada, UK remain safe havens for Khalistani terrorists, says expert|newspaper=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article-amp/news-ani/canada-uk-remain-safe-havens-for-khalistani-terrorists-says-expert-119071601004_1.html|date=19 July 2019|publisher=Business Standard|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=11 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411081406/https://www.business-standard.com/article-amp/news-ani/canada-uk-remain-safe-havens-for-khalistani-terrorists-says-expert-119071601004_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2020, Canada put two Sikh men on [[Passenger Protect]], the Canadian no-fly list, after [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]] had received information from R&AW that both intended to travel to Pakistan and carry out an [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]]-backed terrorist attack inside India. One of the men was identified as the son of [[Lakhbir Singh Rode]], a well-known Khalistani separatist.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian report flags ISI using pro-Khalistan elements for terror acts in India|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/canadian-report-flags-isi-using-pro-khalistan-elements-for-terror-acts-in-india/story-0i4fpUgzRHOBDFjR9XySFL.html|date=10 July 2020|publisher=Hindustan Times|access-date=10 October 2023|archive-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004143152/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/canadian-report-flags-isi-using-pro-khalistan-elements-for-terror-acts-in-india/story-0i4fpUgzRHOBDFjR9XySFL_amp.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 19 June 2023, [[Hardeep Singh Nijjar]], a prominent Khalistani leader and alleged chief of the [[Khalistan Tiger Force]] was shot to death outside the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in [[Surrey, British Columbia|Surrey]], British Columbia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hardeep Nijjar is Third Pro-Khalistani Activist to Die Abroad in 45 Days, Canada Probing Motive |url=https://thewire.in/world/hardeep-singh-nijjar-killing-khalistan-speculation |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=The Wire |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630210703/https://thewire.in/world/hardeep-singh-nijjar-killing-khalistan-speculation |url-status=live }}</ref> Nijjar was accused of training and funding members of the separatist group and had been declared a terrorist by India, who put a bounty of {{INRConvert|10|l|lk=on|year=2020}} for information leading to his arrest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-19 |title=Khalistani leader shot dead inside gurdwara in Canada |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/khalistan-leader-shot-dead-canada-b2360146.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630210707/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/khalistan-leader-shot-dead-canada-b2360146.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This was heavily seen as an R&AW assassination operation by not only followers of Nijjar, but also from Canadian officials.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Murder at the temple: The conflicting legacies of a B.C. Sikh leader {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9784316/hardeep-singh-nijjar-death-surrey-b-c/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Global News |language=en-US |archive-date=19 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919144314/https://globalnews.ca/news/9784316/hardeep-singh-nijjar-death-surrey-b-c/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Isai |first=Vjosa |date=2023-06-24 |title=Killing of Sikh Leader Raises Fears in British Columbia |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/24/world/canada/sikh-killing-british-columbia-india.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630210703/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/24/world/canada/sikh-killing-british-columbia-india.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 18 September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] formally accused the Indian government of the [[Extrajudicial killing|killing]] and acknowledged the expulsion of a prominent Indian diplomat responsible for R&AW activities in the country.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Austen |first1=Ian |last2=Isai |first2=Vjosa |date=2023-09-18 |title=Justin Trudeau Accuses India in a Killing on Canadian Soil |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/18/world/canada/canada-india-sikh-killing.html |access-date=2023-09-18 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=19 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919010329/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/18/world/canada/canada-india-sikh-killing.html |url-status=live }}</ref> India rejected Canada's allegations of involvement in Nijjar's murder, calling the Canadian government's allegations "absurd and motivated", and expelled numerous Canadian diplomats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India rejects allegations by Canada |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/37125/India_rejects_allegations_by_Canada |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=www.mea.gov.in |language=english |archive-date=8 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008193938/https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/37125/India_rejects_allegations_by_Canada |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== United States ====
On 23 November 2023, [[Financial Times|''The'' ''Financial Times'']] reported that the United States had foiled a plan to assassinate [[Gurpatwant Singh Pannun]], a Sikh separatist, on American soil.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-22 |title=US foils bid to kill Sikh terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, warns India: Report |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/world/us-thwarts-plot-to-kill-sikh-separatist-issues-warning-to-india-report-11700650091904.html |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Livemint}}</ref> Following this, the US requested India to hold accountable those responsible for the plot. The plot in the United States coincided with the June 18 shooting death of [[Hardeep Singh Nijjar]] in Surrey, B.C., near Vancouver — an operation also linked to R&AW. Experts and officials say that the foiled assassination is part of an escalating campaign of aggression by R&AW against alleged Sikh Separatists in Asia, Europe, USA  and Canada.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |last2=Hassan |first2=Aakash |last3=Baloch |first3=Shah Meer |date=4 April 2024 |title=Indian government ordered killings in Pakistan, intelligence officials claim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/04/indian-government-assassination-allegations-pakistan-intelligence-officials |work=The Guardian}}</ref> 

On 10 December 2023, ''The Washington Post'' reported that an R&AW officer established a fake news site to spread disinformation against critics of the [[Premiership of Narendra Modi|Modi government]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Shih |first1=Gerry |last2=Ence Morse |first2=Clara |last3=Verma |first3=Pranshu |date=2023-12-11 |title=Covert Indian operation seeks to discredit Modi's critics in the U.S. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/10/india-the-disinfo-lab-discredit-critics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211080558/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/10/india-the-disinfo-lab-discredit-critics/ |archive-date=2023-12-11 |access-date=2023-12-30 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en}}</ref> 

On 20 March 2024, ''[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]'' reported that an Indian investigation had found "rogue operative" who were not authorized by the government to be involved in the plot. Additionally, at least one person who was directly involved in the alleged assassination attempt is no longer employed by R&AW. However, India has not initiated any criminal action against them.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-20 |title=India's Probe Finds Rogue Officials Involved in US Murder Plot |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-20/india-s-probe-finds-rogue-officials-involved-in-us-murder-plot |access-date=2024-04-04 |work=Bloomberg.com}}</ref> According to ''[[The Washington Post]]'', it is the U.S. intelligence agencies assessment that the operation targeting Pannun was approved by [[Samant Goel]], the R&AW chief at the time.<ref>{{cite news |title=An assassination plot on American soil reveals a darker side of Modi's India |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/29/india-assassination-raw-sikhs-modi/ |newspaper=Washington Post |date=April 29, 2024}}</ref>

On 15 October 2024 ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' reported that India has conveyed to the United States that it (India) has arrested the "rogue operative".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jha |first=Prashant |date=October 15, 2024 |title=India tells US 'CC1' arrested as team heads to Washington |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-tells-us-cc1-arrested-as-team-heads-to-washington-101728933357929.html |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> The "rogue operative" had made bail in April 2024 according to [[The Indian Express|''The'' ''Indian Express'']]''.'' The "rogue operative" was arrested in an extortion case.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-19 |title=Weeks after US called him key conspirator in Pannun murder bid, Delhi Police arrested Vikash Yadav in local extortion case |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/weeks-after-us-called-him-key-conspirator-in-pannun-murder-bid-delhi-police-arrested-vikash-yadav-in-local-extortion-case-9627561/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> 

On 18 November 2024 ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' reported that the "rogue operative" had sought exemption <bdi>from physical appearance in the court citing threat to his life.</bdi><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Shekhar |date=2024-11-18 |title=Vikas Yadav to court: Exempt me from physical appearance |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2024/Nov/18/vikas-yadav-to-court-exempt-me-from-physical-appearance |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

On 15 January 2025 ''The Indian Express'' reported that an inquiry committee which was formed by the Government of India after US allegation regarding Gurpatwant Singh Pannun came to light had recommended legal action against an unnamed individual and the committee also recommended "''functional improvements in systems and procedures as well as initiation of steps that could strengthen India’s response capability, ensure systematic controls and coordinated action in dealing with matters like this''.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-15 |title=Pannun assassination plot: Govt panel suggests legal action against ‘individual’ with ‘criminal links and antecedents’ |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pannun-assassination-plot-legal-action-criminal-9780314/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

===Corruption cases===
* In the edition of 8 February 2010 ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook Magazine]]'' reported on former R&AW Chief, [[Ashok Chaturvedi]], using [[Government of India]] funds to take his wife along on international trips. After retirement, Chaturvedi had a diplomatic passport issued for himself and his wife. Per ''Outlook Magazine'': "Only grade 'A' ambassadors—usually IFS officers posted in key countries like the UK and US—are allowed to hold diplomatic passports after retirement. The majority, who do not fit that bill, hold passports issued to ordinary citizens. In fact, all former R&AW chiefs Outlook spoke to confirmed they had surrendered their diplomatic passports the day they retired. And their spouses weren't entitled to diplomatic passports even while they were in service."<ref>Outlook reports on RAW corruption: [http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264027 Outlookindia.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204075311/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264027 |date=4 February 2010 }}</ref>
* In September 2007, R&AW was involved in a [[Ashok Chaturvedi#The V.K. Singh Book Dispute|controversy]] due to a high-profile [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] raid at the residence of [[Major general|Major General]] (retired) V K Singh, a retired [[Joint Secretary to Government of India|Joint Secretary]] of R&AW who has recently written a book on R&AW where it was alleged that political interference and corruption in the intelligence agency has made it vulnerable to defections. One of the instances of corruption mentioned in the book was the preference given by R&AW departments towards purchasing intelligence from the [[Rohde and Schwarz]] company.<ref>Singh VK. India's External Intelligence: Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). New Delhi: Manas Publications. Pg 87</ref> A reason for such corruption as explained by the author is that "''...R&AW was not answerable to any outside agency – the control of the [[Indian Prime Minister's Office|Prime Minister's Office]] was perfunctory, at best – many officers thought that they were not only above the law but a law unto themselves.''"<ref>Singh VK. India's External Intelligence: Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). New Delhi: Manas Publications. Pg 12</ref> A case under the [[Official Secrets Act (India)|Official Secrets Act]] has also been filed against V K Singh.<ref>[http://in.news.yahoo.com/070921/211/6l26e.html RAW man protests CBI raid on his home over story book]. Retrieved 24 September 2007 {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* On 19 August 2008 the R&AW Director (Language) who was also head of the R&AW Training Institute in [[Gurgaon]] from 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/350996.html |title='Sexually harassed but no one listening': suicide bid at PMO by RAW director |work=The Indian Express |date=20 August 2008 |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204204148/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/350996.html |archive-date=4 December 2008 }}</ref> tried to commit suicide in front of [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Prime Minister's Office]], alleging inaction and wrong findings to a [[sexual harassment]] complaint filed against a [[Joint Secretary to Government of India|Joint Secretary]], who was on deputation to R&AW.<ref>{{cite web|author=RAW officer attempts suicide near PMO |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080062175 |title=RAW officer attempts suicide near PMO |publisher=NDTV.com |date=19 August 2008 |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202115533/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080062175 |archive-date= 2 December 2008 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/12668 |title=RAW officer attempts suicide at PMO |publisher=Newstrackindia.com |date=20 August 2008 |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423145447/http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/12668 |archive-date=23 April 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> She was discharged from duty on the ground that she was mentally unfit<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1061624/ |title=Ms. Nisha Priya Bhatia vs Cabinet Secretariat (R ) on 31 December, 2009 |publisher=Indiankanoon.org |access-date=28 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319031347/http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1061624/ |archive-date=19 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and that her identity was disclosed.<ref name="indianexpress.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/no-grave-mental-disorder-institute-seeks/756075/ |title=No 'grave' mental disorder, institute seeks review in trial of ex-RAW official |work=The Indian Express |date=1 March 2011 |access-date=28 May 2012 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304121325/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/no-grave-mental-disorder-institute-seeks/756075/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She was later separately charged with criminal trespass,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/arrested-raw-director-gets-bail-in-trespass/552243/ |title=Arrested RAW director gets bail in trespass case |work=The Indian Express |date=10 December 2009 |access-date=28 May 2012 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=14 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814175215/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Foreign-baddies-muscle-into-Tamil-cinema/2013/09/01/article1757724.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> human trafficking<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Former-RAW-official-tries-to-undress-in-court/articleshow/7326218.cms |work=The Times of India |title=Former RAW official tries to undress in court |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124013752/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Former-RAW-official-tries-to-undress-in-court/articleshow/7326218.cms |archive-date=24 January 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> and for her repeated attempts to commit suicide.<ref name="indianexpress.com"/> The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) ordered R&AW to reinstate her<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cat-snubs-r&aw-reinstates-officer/592870/ |title=CAT snubs R&AW, reinstates officer |work=The Indian Express |date=19 March 2010 |access-date=28 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123005713/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cat-snubs-r%26aw-reinstates-officer/592870/ |archive-date=23 January 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> however R&AW filed an appeal against the CAT order which is pending before [[Delhi High Court]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/no-grave-mental-disorder-institute-seeks-review-in-trial-of-exraw-official/756075/2 |title=No 'grave' mental disorder, institute seeks review in trial of ex-RAW official |work=The Indian Express |date=1 March 2011 |access-date=28 May 2012 |df=dmy-all |archive-date=14 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814175215/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Foreign-baddies-muscle-into-Tamil-cinema/2013/09/01/article1757724.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> On 20 January 2011 she was sent for psychological evaluation<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/ex-raw-official-to-stay-in-medical-detention/articleshow/7376165.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Ex-RAW official to stay in medical detention | date=28 January 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210074902/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/ex/RAW-official-to-stay-in-medical-detention/articleshow/7376165.cms | archive-date=10 February 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> and medical detention by a Delhi High Court judge when she tried to strip herself in the court protesting over the slow pace of her trial.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Protesting-slow-pace-of-trial-woman-strips-in-HC/articleshow/7330669.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Protesting slow pace of trial, woman strips in HC | date=21 January 2011 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124204733/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Protesting-slow-pace-of-trial-woman-strips-in-HC/articleshow/7330669.cms | archive-date=24 January 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/former-raw-official-strips-in-court/141077-3.html |title=Former RAW official strips in Delhi court -India News – IBN7 |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=28 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501030648/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/former-raw-official-strips-in-court/141077-3.html |archive-date=1 May 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The psychological evaluation report stated that 'she may be suffering a mental problem due to loss of job and her continuous run-ins at the courts, but she was certainly not suffering from any permanent or grave mental disorder.'<ref name="indianexpress.com"/> On 15 December 2014, the [[Supreme Court of India]] quashed the 2008 media release, which proclaimed Ms. Bhatia as mentally unstable, on the ground that it affected the "dignity, reputation and privacy of a citizen".<ref>{{cite news|title=Sanity slur off|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1141216/jsp/nation/story_3825.jsp|access-date=16 December 2014|work=Calcutta Telegraph|date=15 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216145356/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1141216/jsp/nation/story_3825.jsp|archive-date=16 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* A senior technical officer was arrested by [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] on graft charges, on 4 February 2009. The scientist, a Director level employee, worked in the division that granted export licenses to companies dealing in "sensitive" items, including defence-related equipment. He was accused of demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹ 100,000 from a [[Chennai]] based manufacturer for obtaining an export license.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/04/stories/2009020455681300.htm |title=Front Page : RAW official arrested on graft charge |date=4 February 2009 |access-date=28 September 2009 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629014937/http://hindu.com/2009/02/04/stories/2009020455681300.htm |archive-date=29 June 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]] |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* In September 2009, seven [[Additional Secretary to Government of India|Additional Secretaries]] from the RAS cadre had gone on protest leave after A. B. Mathur, an IPS officer, superseded them to the post of Special Secretary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/07/indias-spies-the-latest-to-go-on-strike.htm |title=India's spies the latest to go on strike: Rediff.com news |work=Rediff.com |date=7 September 2009 |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014065415/http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/07/indias-spies-the-latest-to-go-on-strike.htm |archive-date=14 October 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/32/20090907/1053/tnl-ips-promoted-raw-officials-strike-wi.html |title=IPS promoted, RAW officials strike with a holiday – Yahoo! India News |publisher=Yahoo! News |access-date=28 September 2009 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Over the years the tussle between the RAS cadre and officers on deputation from IPS cadre has caused friction in the working of the agency.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?237864 |title=Spy Versus Spy &#124; Saikat Datta |publisher=Outlookindia.com |access-date=28 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016030914/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?237864 |archive-date=16 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Defections and spy scandals===
* In the early 1980s, K.V. Unnikrishnan, a 1962 batch IPS officer, who was posted at R&AW station in Colombo was honey-trapped by CIA. Between 1985 and 1987 when he was deputed as the station chief at Chennai, coordinating Sri Lanka operations, he gave away information to his handler on training and arming Tamil groups including LTTE, the Indian government's negotiating positions on the peace accord with Sri Lanka and the encryption code used by the agency. He was caught by IB counterintelligence in 1987, spent a year in Tihar jail and was dismissed from IPS cadre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/madras-cafe-madras-honey-trap-john-abraham-cia-ltte-raw/1/304302.html|title=Madras Cafe brings back uncomfortable memories of the CIA's honey trap|last=Unnithan|first=Sandip|date=29 August 2013|work=India Today|access-date=11 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912104153/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/madras-cafe-madras-honey-trap-john-abraham-cia-ltte-raw/1/304302.html|archive-date=12 September 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/such-a-long-lankan-journey/1167330/0|title=Such a long Lankan journey|last=Gupta|first=Shekhar|date=11 September 2013|work=The Indian Express|access-date=11 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914042030/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/such-a-long-lankan-journey/1167330/0|archive-date=14 September 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/9_30_1987-RAW_Spy-Catching.pdf|title=Spy Catching|last=Bahdwar|first=Inderjit|date=30 September 1987|work=India Today|access-date=11 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918113918/http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/9_30_1987-RAW_Spy-Catching.pdf|archive-date=18 September 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* In 2004, there was a spy scandal involving the [[CIA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jid/jid040701_1_n.shtml |title=India's CIA spy scandal |publisher=Janes.com |date=11 September 2001 |access-date=28 September 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080225164631/http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jid/jid040701_1_n.shtml| archive-date = 25 February 2008}}</ref> [[Rabinder Singh (intelligence officer)|Rabinder Singh]], [[Joint Secretary to Government of India|Joint Secretary]] and the head of R&AW's [[South East Asia|South-East Asia]] department, defected to America on 5 June 2004. R&AW had already become suspicious about his movements, and he was under surveillance for a very long time. Soon he was confronted by Counterintelligence officials on 19 April 2004. Despite all precautions, Rabinder Singh managed to defect with 'sensitive files' he had allegedly removed from R&AW's headquarters in south New Delhi. This embarrassing fiasco and national security failure were attributed to weak surveillance, shoddy investigation, and lack of coordination between the Counterintelligence and Security, [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau (IB)]] and R&AW.<ref>C K Kutty. [http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/04spec1.htm Did the CIA help Rabinder Singh flee?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060706044620/http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/04spec1.htm |date=6 July 2006 }}</ref> According to unconfirmed reports, Singh has surfaced in [[Virginia]], USA. Recently in an affidavit submitted to the court, R&AW deposed that Singh has been traced in [[New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/15865.html |title=Rabinder in US, we want him back: RAW in court |work=The Indian Express |date=2 November 2006 |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307091854/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/15865.html |archive-date= 7 March 2008 }}</ref> It has been speculated in the book ''Mission R&AW'' that although the CIA was found directly involved in compromising Singh and Unnikrishnan, at least eight other R&AW officers managed to clandestinely migrate and settle in foreign countries like the US and Canada with the help of their spy agencies.<ref>{{cite news|last=Yadav|first=Yatish|title=Former Spy Reveals Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Former-Spy-Reveals-Secrets-of-Research-and-Analysis-Wing/2014/04/06/article2151632.ece|access-date=6 April 2014|newspaper=The New Indian Express|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407151105/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Former-Spy-Reveals-Secrets-of-Research-and-Analysis-Wing/2014/04/06/article2151632.ece|archive-date=7 April 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* In 2007, there was a spy scandal involving [[Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsrack.in/DisplayNewsItem.do;jsessionid=12C267E943FFA098F3EF22DDAB5D0D83?ni=12.6.2007%2F390.ht.india%2Fni1.redir.aspx_ID%3D0d7300bc-67d0-4611-9eee-6713d46e0630 |title=Bangladeshi worked for RAW for 6 years- Hindustan Times |publisher=Newsrack.in |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108064316/http://newsrack.in/DisplayNewsItem.do%3Bjsessionid%3D12C267E943FFA098F3EF22DDAB5D0D83?ni=12.6.2007%2F390.ht.india%2Fni1.redir.aspx_ID%3D0d7300bc-67d0-4611-9eee-6713d46e0630 |archive-date=8 January 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> A Bangladeshi [[Directorate General of Forces Intelligence|DGFI]] agent concealed his nationality before joining R&AW, and was known by the name of Diwan Chand Malik in the agency. He was known to have some important intel which was damaging for the national security. He joined the agency in 1999 and used to live in East [[Delhi]]. A case of cheating and forgery was filed against him at the Lodhi Colony police station on the basis of a complaint by a senior R&AW official.<ref>[http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=0d7300bc-67d0-4611-9eee-6713d46e0630&MatchID1=4586&TeamID1=1&TeamID2=8&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1151&MatchID2=4588&TeamID3=3&TeamID4=5&MatchType2=1&SeriesID2=1152&PrimaryID=4586&Headline=Bangladeshi+worked+for+R%26amp%3bAW+for+6+years Bangladeshi worked for RAW for 6 years]   {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103103401/http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=0d7300bc-67d0-4611-9eee-6713d46e0630&MatchID1=4586&TeamID1=1&TeamID2=8&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1151&MatchID2=4588&TeamID3=3&TeamID4=5&MatchType2=1&SeriesID2=1152&PrimaryID=4586&Headline=Bangladeshi%20worked%20for%20R&amp%3BAW%20for%206%20years |date=3 January 2008 }}</ref>
* On 25 March 2016, Pakistan claimed that they arrested a R&AW operative by the name of [[Kulbhushan Jadhav]] who was operating in [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] province under the cover name [[Hussain Mubarak Patel]]. Pakistan claimed that he was carrying a passport under that fake identity and used to operate a jewelry shop in [[Chahbahar]], Iran. He is believed to be a serving commander-ranked officer in [[Indian Navy]].<ref name="tribune">{{cite web | url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1073072/caught-in-balochistan-new-delhi-admits-spy-served-in-indian-navy/ | title=New Delhi admits spy served in Indian Navy | work=The Express Tribune | date=26 March 2016 | access-date=26 March 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326043309/http://tribune.com.pk/story/1073072/caught-in-balochistan-new-delhi-admits-spy-served-in-indian-navy/ | archive-date=26 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="dawn2">{{cite web | url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1247850/india-accepts-spy-as-former-navy-officer-denies-having-links | title=India accepts 'spy' as former navy officer, denies having links | publisher=DAWN | date=25 March 2016 | access-date=26 March 2016 | author=Mateen Haider, Shakeel Qarar | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326065950/http://www.dawn.com/news/1247850/india-accepts-spy-as-former-navy-officer-denies-having-links | archive-date=26 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.geo.tv/latest/102925-From-Kul-Bashan-Yadav-to-Mubarak-Patel-The-journey-of-a-RAW-agent|title=RAW agent reveals, more spies present to destabilize Pakistan|website=geo.tv|access-date=27 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329041148/http://www.geo.tv/latest/102925-From-Kul-Bashan-Yadav-to-Mubarak-Patel-The-journey-of-a-RAW-agent|archive-date=29 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> According to a section of Pakistani media, he was involved in terrorist incidents in [[Karachi]] and Balochistan, most notably the [[2015 Karachi bus shooting|terrorist attack on a bus]] full of Shia passengers in [[Safoora Goth]], Karachi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/329205-Dunya-News-reveals-undeniable-facts-about-arrested|title=Dunya News reveals undeniable facts about arrested RAW agent – Pakistan – Dunya News|work=dunyanews.tv|date=14 February 2008 |access-date=25 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516003833/http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/329205-Dunya-News-reveals-undeniable-facts-about-arrested|archive-date=16 May 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Indian MEA]] said that though Jadhav was an Indian Navy officer who retired prematurely, he has no link with the government.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/alleged-indian-spy-arrested-in-pakistan-is-ex-naval-officer-no-connection-to-govt-mea-tells-islamabad_1869157.html|title=Alleged 'Indian spy' arrested in Pakistan has no connection with govt: MEA to Islamabad|website=Zee News|date=25 March 2016 |access-date=26 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327141348/http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/alleged-indian-spy-arrested-in-pakistan-is-ex-naval-officer-no-connection-to-govt-mea-tells-islamabad_1869157.html|archive-date=27 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Indian High Commission has also sought consular access to Jadhav, but Pakistan has not agreed to it<ref name="newindianexpress.com 2016-03-27">{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Iran-President-Dismisses-Pakistans-RAW-Spy-Claim/2016/03/27/article3348018.ece|title=Iran President Dismisses Pakistan's RAW Spy Claim|work=The New Indian Express|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404192454/http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Iran-President-Dismisses-Pakistans-RAW-Spy-Claim/2016/03/27/article3348018.ece|archive-date=4 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and Pakistan leaked some information without realising glaring loopholes in the same. The [[Iranian President]] [[Hassan Rouhani]] also dismissed Pakistan's claim and stated them as mere rumors.<ref name="newindianexpress.com 2016-03-27"/> According to an Indian official, Jadhav owns a cargo business in Iran and had been working out of [[Bandar Abbas]] and [[Chabahar]] ports. "It appears that he strayed into Pakistani waters. But there is also a possibility that he was lured into Pakistan sometime back and fake documents were created on him.<ref name="newindianexpress.com 2016-03-27"/>

==Secretaries==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Name
! Took office
! Left office
! Notes
|-
| 1
| [[R. N. Kao]]
| 1968
| 1977
| Founder of R&AW, ARC<br />• [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]<br />• [[Operation Smiling Buddha]]<br />• Amalgamation of [[Sikkim]]<br />• [[ELINT]] operation with the [[CIA]] against China
|-
| 2
| [[K. Sankaran Nair]]
| 1977
| 1977
| Resigned from service in protest of downgrading the designation of Head of R&AW as Director, R&AW instead of Secretary (R).
|-
| 3
| N. F. Suntook
| 1977
| 1983
| Founder Director of RRC (Radio Research Centre), [[Electronics and Technical Services|ETS]]<br>• Executed [[Operation Lal Dora]]
|-
| 4
| [[Girish Chandra Saxena]]
| 1983
| 1986
| • Collaborated with the Intelligence Agencies of United States, the erstwhile [[USSR]], China, [[Iran]], Afghanistan, [[Saudi Arabia]], etc. <br>• [[Kanishka Bombing]]<br>• [[Operation Blue Star]]
|-
| 5
| S. E. Joshi
| 1986
| 1987
| • Continued collaboration with Intelligence Agencies<br>• During his tenure, the post of Director of R&AW was re-designated as Secretary (R), and this designation has continued since then.
|-
| 6
| A. K. Verma
| 1987
| 1990
| • [[Operation Cactus]]<br>• [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]]
|-
| 7
| G. S. Bajpai
| 1990
| 1991
| Counter Insurgency operations
|-
| 8
| N. Narasimhan
| 1991
| 1993
|
|-
| 9
| J. S. Bedi
| 1993
| 1993
| Chief during [[1993 Mumbai bombings]]<br>• Specialist in China, Pakistan and counter terrorism.
|-
| 10
| A. S. Syali
| 1993
| 1996
| • Increased economic surveillance <br>• Emphasis on advanced training and more recruitment
|-
| 11
| Ranjan Roy
| 1996
| 1997
| Negotiation on [[Farkhor Air Base]]
|-
| 12
| [[Arvind Dave]]
| 1997
| 1999
| • [[Kargil War]]<br>• [[Operation Shakti]]
|-
| 13
| [[A. S. Dulat]]
| 1999
| 2000
| • Negotiated with [[IC 814]] hijackers<ref>'Advani pressed for release of terrorist', ''Hindustan Times'', Saturday, 18 April 2009, Page 1</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1702/17020040.htm |title=Kashmir After Kandahar |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |access-date=4 March 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304192006/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1702/17020040.htm |archive-date=4 March 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><br>• Tenure marred by allegations of incompetence and mishandling.
|-
| 14
| [[Vikram Sood]]
| 13 December 2000
| 31 March 2003
| Founder of [[National Technical Facilities Organisation|National Technical Research Organisation]]
|-
| 15
| [[C. D. Sahay]]
| 1 April 2003
| 31 January 2005
| • Revamped ARC <br>• Inauguration of R&AW headquarters at Lodi Road, New Delhi
|-
| 16
| [[P. K. H. Tharakan]]
| 1 February 2005
| 31 January 2007
| • Served an instrumental role in setting up of [[Nuclear Command Authority (India)]] <br>• Negotiated the end of [[Nepalese Civil War]] and helped warring parties to sign the [[Comprehensive Peace Accord]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/fierce-one|title=The Fierce One|work=The Caravan|access-date=25 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322172426/http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/fierce-one|archive-date=22 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| 17
| [[Ashok Chaturvedi]]
| 1 February 2007
| 31 January 2009
|• Tenure marred by many allegations of nepotism and corruption<br>• Investigation of [[2007 Samjhauta Express bombings|Samjhauta bombings]]
|-
| 18
| [[K. C. Verma]]
| 1 February 2009
| 30 December 2010
| Investigation of [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]
|-
| 19
| [[Sanjeev Tripathi]]
| 30 December 2010
| 29 December 2012
|
|-
| 20
| [[Alok Joshi]]
| 30 December 2012
| 30 December 2014
|
|-
| 21
| [[Rajinder Khanna]]
| 31 December 2014
| 31 December 2016
| • [[2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar]]<br>• [[2016 Indian Line of Control strike]]
|-
|22
|[[Anil Dhasmana]]
|1 January 2017
|29 June 2019<ref>[https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1575847 Approvals of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet], Press Information Bureau, 26 June 2019, [https://web.archive.org/web/20210910061456/https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1575847 archived copy]</ref>
|• [[Operation Sunrise (2019)|Operation Sunrise]]<br>• [[2019 Balakot airstrike]]
|-
|23
|[[Samant Goel]]
|1 July 2019
| 30 June 2023
|• [[Revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir|Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A]]
|-
| 24
| [[Ravi Sinha]]
| 1 July 2023
| 30 June 2025
|• [[Operation Sindhoor]]
|-
| 25
| [[Parag Jain]]
| 1 July 2025
| [[Incumbent]]
|
|}

Most of the [[Secretary to Government of India|Secretaries]] of Research and Analysis Wing have been [[Indian Police Service]] (IPS) officers. R. N. Kao and K. Sankaran Nair belonged to the [[Imperial Police]] (IP), of the British colonial days which was renamed as the Indian Police Service after Indian Independence in 1947. N. F. Suntook had served in the [[Indian Navy]], then in the Indian Police Service and in the Indian Frontier Administration Service. Vikram Sood was from the [[Indian Postal Service]] (IPoS) and was later permanently absorbed in the [[#Recruitment|Research and Analysis Service]] (RAS) cadre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02spec3.htm |title=A RAW hand |work=Rediff.com |access-date=28 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531062908/http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02spec3.htm |archive-date=31 May 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Now he acts as Advisor to Fair Observer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fairobserver.com/advisors |title=Fair Observer - Advisors |access-date=2011-09-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927023147/http://fairobserver.com/advisors |archive-date=27 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }} Fair Observer Advisor List</ref> A. S. Dulat was an Indian Police Service officer deputed from the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]]. All the chiefs have been experts on [[China]] or [[Pakistan]] except for [[Ashok Chaturvedi]], who was an expert on [[Nepal]].<ref name="A RAW hand: Rediff.com news" />

== In popular culture ==
Films in the 1960s and 1970s, such as ''[[Ankhen (1968 film)|Aankhen]]'' (1968), starring [[Dharmendra]] and [[Mala Sinha]], ''Prem Pujari'' starring [[Dev Anand]] in 1970, and ''[[Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973 film)|Hindustan Ki Kasam]]'' (1973) starring [[Raaj Kumar]] and [[Priya Rajvansh]] referenced "agents" and "espionage". However, since the late 1990s and early 2000, [[Bollywood]] and [[Cinema of India#Regional industries|other regional]] films have openly mentioned R&AW and its allied units, with the intelligence agencies at the center of the plot. In ''[[The Hero: Love Story of a Spy|The Hero]]'' (2003) film [[Sunny Deol]] played a RAW spy, who eliminates Pakistani terrorists who tried to gain bombs to use against India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2018 |title=Ten Bollywood female spies... |url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/TlAMqMcR5Ch6QnqAArJYXN/Ten-Bollywood-female-spies-to-remember.html%3Ffacet%3Damp&ved=2ahUKEwixkYSJjdeBAxVbUGwGHXiqC904ChAWegQIChAB&usg=AOvVaw0o0nfyZJ270RevJADst8VT |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003233050/https://www.livemint.com/consumer/tlamqmcr5ch6qnqaarjyxn/ten-bollywood-female-spies-to-remember.html?facet=amp&ved=2ahukewixkysjjdebaxvbugwghxiqc904chawegqichab&usg=aovvaw0o0nfyzj270revjadst8vt |archive-date=3 October 2023 |website=Live Mint}}</ref> In ''[[Romeo Akbar Walter]]'' (2019), [[John Abraham]] played the role of a spy recruited by the Research and Analysis Wing.<ref>{{Citation |last=Grewal |first=Robbie |title=Romeo Akbar Walter |date=2019-04-05 |type=Action, Drama, Thriller |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8550208/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |others=John Abraham, Jackie Shroff, Sikandar Kher |publisher=Kyta Productions, NNB Digital Media, VA Film Company}}</ref> In the film ''[[Mission Majnu]]'' (2023), [[Siddharth Malhotra]] played a secret raw field agent, [[Parmeet Sethi]] portrayed [[R.N. Kao]] while [[Sharib Hashmi]], [[Kumud Mishra]] also played the role of undercover raw agents.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 December 2022 |title=Mission Majnu teaser out! Sidharth Malhotra plays RAW agent, promises to protect India |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/binge-watch/story/mission-majnu-teaser-out-sidharth-malhotra-plays-raw-agent-promises-to-protect-india-2309986-2022-12-16 |access-date=22 November 2023 |work=India Today |language=en}}</ref> [[Ravindra Kaushik]] is RAW's most celebrated spy. RAW selected him when he was a college student in his hometown [[Sri Ganganagar]]. [[Epic TV]] broadcast his biography in ''[[Adrishya]],'' a documentary show dedicated to India's legendary spies. In another episode India's current NSA, former RAW agent [[Ajit Doval]] story was featured.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch Adrishya Onilne {{!}} Episode 6 Ravindra Kaushik {{!}} EPIC ON |url=https://www.epicon.in/tv-shows/adrishya/season-1/e6-ravindra-kaushik |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=www.epicon.in |language=en |archive-date=3 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003233050/https://www.epicon.in/tv-shows/adrishya/season-1/e6-ravindra-kaushik |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Adrishya - Ajit Doval {{!}} Full Episode {{!}} Indian Spy Master {{!}} Operation Black Thunder {{!}} EPIC | date=27 July 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1UN3UYzuaw |access-date=2023-10-02 |language=en |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317170135/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1UN3UYzuaw |url-status=live }}</ref> The popular [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam film]] [[Highway (1995 film)|Highway]], starring [[Suresh Gopi]] and [[Bhanupriya]], is a major example for a South Indian film featuring R&AW, and is the only Malayalam film to be so.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

In 2023 film [[Khufiya]] directed by [[Vishal Bharadwaj]] actress [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]] played a role of RAW operative as Krishna Mehra 'KM'. The movie was released on 5 October 2023 on [[Netflix]].

In [[Television in India|television channels in India]], ''2612'' which used to air on [[Life OK]], featured Cabir Maira as a R&AW agent Anand Swami who helps an STF officer Randeep Rathore to save the country from a terrorist attack. ''Time Bomb 9/11'', a series aired on [[Zee TV]], featured [[Rajeev Khandelwal]] in the role of a R&AW field officer who attempts to defuse a nuclear bomb set in India, as well as saving the life of the Indian prime minister. [[Zee Bangla]] featured a serial named ''Mohona'' where the chief protagonist is a R&AW officer. ''Sajda Tere Pyar Mein'' a series on [[Star Plus]], features [[Shaleen Bhanot]] in the role of a R&AW officer who asks a young woman named Aliya for help in catching a spy named Mahendra Pratap. The Indian version of ''[[24 (Indian TV series)|24]]'' has a host of characters affiliated with R&AW. The 2018 web series ''[[Sacred Games (TV series)|Sacred Games]]'' has a R&AW agent played by [[Radhika Apte]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Sacred Games: Radhika Apte on playing a RAW agent, the freedom that comes with a Netflix series|language=en-US|work=Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/sacred-games-radhika-apte-on-playing-a-raw-agent-the-freedom-that-comes-with-a-netflix-series-4716311.html|access-date=2018-11-09|archive-date=9 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109113644/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/sacred-games-radhika-apte-on-playing-a-raw-agent-the-freedom-that-comes-with-a-netflix-series-4716311.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Foreign films which have actors playing R&AW agents include Pakistan-based-films such as ''[[Waar]]'' (2013).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mondal|first=Sayantan|date=1 April 2017|title=Naam Madam X1: Before Shabana Khan, these female secret agents saved the country from peril|url=https://scroll.in/reel/833296/naam-madam-x1-before-shabana-khan-these-female-secret-agents-saved-the-country-from-peril|access-date=2021-08-29|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829105125/https://scroll.in/reel/833296/naam-madam-x1-before-shabana-khan-these-female-secret-agents-saved-the-country-from-peril|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond]] is a [[Hindi]]-language [[war drama film|war drama]] [[Web series|streaming television series]] directed by Santosh Singh for [[JioCinema]]. The series stars [[Ashutosh Rana]], [[Ashish Vidyarthi]], [[Jimmy Shergill]], [[Lara Dutta]], [[Aakanksha Singh]], [[Mir Sarwar]], [[Prasanna (actor)|Prasanna]], [[Sikandar Kharbanda]] and others.<ref>{{cite news |last=Prakash |first=Priya |title=New War, New Plan: 'Ranneeti - Balakot & Beyond' To Release On This Date |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/film-theatre/ranneeti-balakot-and-beyond-plot-lara-dutta |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=[[SheThePeople]] |date=18 April 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=JioCinema teases war room drama 'Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/jiocinema-teases-war-room-drama-ranneeti-balakot-beyond/article67887908.ece |access-date=27 February 2024 |url-access=subscription |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=26 February 2024 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=26 February 2024 |title=5 Years of Balakot airstrike: JioCinema shares a preview of Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond starring Lara Dutta, Jimmy Shergill, Ashutosh Rana and more |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/5-years-balakot-airstrike-jiocinema-shares-preview-ranneeti-balakot-beyond-starring-lara-dutta-jimmy-shergill-ashutosh-rana/ |access-date=27 February 2024 |work=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond Web Series |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/ranneeti-balakot-and-beyond-web-series-120814 |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=[[NDTV|Gadgets 360]] |language=en}}</ref> The series was premeiered on 25 April 2024 on [[JioCinema]].

Some academic commentators have linked the increasing surfeit of Indian films and TV series on espionage thriller genre, where an Indian hero staves off impending global catastrophe, as a marker of an aspirational ''[[Indian Century|Pax Indica]]'' not based on 'older paradigms of [[Internationalism (politics)|internationalism]] based on universal brotherhood and non-violent pacifism associated with [[Gandhi]] and [[Nehru]]' but on the motif of an increasingly assertive [[India as a rising superpower|potential superpower]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maderya |first1=Kumuthan |date=21 July 2014 |title=The Myth of the Global Brown Messiah in Kollywood Cinema |url=http://www.popmatters.com/column/183252-the-myth-of-the-global-brown-messiah-in-kollywood-cinema/P2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924080107/http://www.popmatters.com/column/183252-the-myth-of-the-global-brown-messiah-in-kollywood-cinema/P2/ |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=7 August 2014 |website=PopMatters |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Intelligence Bureau (India)]]
* [[Central Bureau of Investigation]]
* [[Mass surveillance in India]]
* [[List of Indian intelligence agencies]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
{{Div col}}
* ''Inside RAW'', Ashok Raina, Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, 1981
* ''[http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/lifting-the-sacred-veil-on-sikkim-114022501239_1.html Smash and grab: Annexation of Sikkim] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107021037/https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/lifting-the-sacred-veil-on-sikkim-114022501239_1.html |date=7 January 2019 }}'', Sunanda K Datta-Ray, Tranquebar, 1984 
* ''Open Secrets: India's Intelligence Unveiled'' – Maloy Krishna Dhar, New Delhi, Manas Publication, 2005 {{ISBN|81-7049-240-8}}
* ''[https://www.amazon.com/dp/8170491487 Mission to Pakistan: An Intelligence Agent in Pakistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410220631/http://www.amazon.com/dp/8170491487 |date=10 April 2021 }}'' Maloy Kri. Dhar, Manas Publication, 1 January 2002, {{ISBN|978-81-7049-148-4}}
* ''Mission: Pakistan'', Maloy Krishna Dhar, iUniverse (January 2004), {{ISBN|978-0-595-30482-0}}
* ''Fulcrum of Evil: ISI, CIA and Al qaeda Nexus'' – Maloy K Dhar, New Delhi, Manas Publication, 2006, {{ISBN|81-7049-278-5}}.
* ''Sin of National conscience'' – R.N. Kulkarni, Mysore: Kritagnya Publication, 2004.
* ''Intelligence: Past, Present, Future'' – B.R. Raman
* ''Indians Hand Evidence on bin Laden to US'', [[Herald Sun]], 17 September 2001.
* ''The KaoBoys of RAW: Down Memory Lane'', B. Raman, Lancer Publishers (2007), {{ISBN|0-9796174-3-X}}
* ''{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20081202111827/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fline/fl2425/stories/20080104242507800.htm Inside IB and RAW: The Rolling stone that gathered moss]}}'', K. Sankaran Nayar, Manas Publication
* ''RAW: Global and Regional Ambitions'' edited by Rashid Ahmad Khan and Muhammad Saleem, Islamabad Policy Research Institute, Asia Printers, Islamabad, 2005
* ''The Game Of Foxes: J-K Intelligence War'', Manoj Joshi, Times Of India, 16 July 1994
* ''Indian Spy Agency's Machinations'', [[Islamabad]], The Muslim, 18 December 1996 p6
* ''[https://archive.today/20130408230430/http://www.dukandar.com/raw.html RAW: Research and Analysis Wing]'' – Tariq Ismail Sagar, Sagar Publication. See also: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/E-buyer_in_soup_for_Pak_writers_book/articleshow/1847954.cms E-buyer in soup for Pak writer's book on RAW] . Retrieved 27 July 2007.
* ''[[Soft Target (book)|Soft Target: How the Indian Intelligence Service Penetrated Canada]]'' – Zuhair Kashmeri and Brian McAndrew, Toronto: James Lorimer, 1989.
* ''[http://vayu-sena.tripod.com/other-spies-in-the-himalayas.html Spies in the Himalayas: Secret Missions and Perilous Climbs.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807225727/http://vayu-sena.tripod.com/other-spies-in-the-himalayas.html |date=7 August 2007 }}'' – MS Kohli and Kenneth Conboy, Ed. KS Lawrence, University of Kansas Press, 2003.
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20070305191908/http://intellit.muskingum.edu/othercountries_folder/india.html Intelligence: A Security Weapon]'', DC Pathak, New Delhi: Manas Publication, 2003.
* ''[https://www.amazon.com/dp/9559519905 Indian intervention in Sri Lanka: The role of India's intelligence agencies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410220652/http://www.amazon.com/dp/9559519905 |date=10 April 2021 }}'', Rohan Gunaratna, South Asian Network on Conflict Research, 1993, {{ISBN|955-95199-0-5}}
* ''India's External Intelligence: Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)'', Maj. Gen. V.K Singh, Manas Publications, {{ISBN|81-7049-332-3}}
* {{Cite book| last1 = Lerner | first1 = Brenda Wilmoth | title = Encyclopedia of espionage, intelligence, and security | year = 2004 | publisher = Thomson/Gale | location = Detroit  | isbn = 0-7876-7687-X }}
* ''[https://www.flickr.com/photos/21709881@N02/2211134333 Assignment Colombo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702093515/https://www.flickr.com/photos/21709881@N02/2211134333 |date=2 July 2016 }}'', J.N. Dixit, Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd, Delhi, 1998.
* ''Escape To Nowhere'', Amar Bhushan, Konark publishers, 2012, {{ISBN|9789322008109}}
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20140407085530/http://manaspublications.in/product/mission-raw/ Mission R&AW]'', RK Yadav, Manas Publications, 2014, {{ISBN|9788170494744}}
* ''[https://harpercollins.co.in/book/the-zero-cost-mission-the-wily-agent/ The Zero-Cost Mission/The Wily Agent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630185634/https://harpercollins.co.in/book/the-zero-cost-mission-the-wily-agent/ |date=30 June 2018 }}'', Amar Bhushan, HarperCollins (India), 2018.
* ''The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace'', A.S. Daulat, Aditya Sinha and Asad Durrani, HarperCollins, 2018. 
{{Div col end}}
{{refend}}

{{Indian intelligence agencies}}
{{India topics}}
{{National intelligence agencies}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Research and Analysis Wing| ]]
[[Category:Indian intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Indo-Pakistani war of 1971]]
[[Category:Information sensitivity]]
[[Category:Foreign intervention in the Sri Lankan civil war]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in Delhi]]