bls31
January 24th, 2008, 09:50 AM
India’s External Intelligence Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) By Maj Gen VK Singh (New Delhi : Manas Publication 2007), 185p, Rs.495, 81-7049-332-3 ISBNA
A valiant effort by the author, who needs to be commended for lifting the veil, even if a we bit, from our premier foreign intelligence agency and for giving some valid suggestions to make it more accountable to the people of India through overseeing by the Parliament, even at the possibility of some personal risk.
The book created quiet turmoil, both in the media and in RAW; the media did pick up, the two issues, those in its view had potential to be more sensational; the release of Musharrf intercepts that happened before the author joined RAW and the case pertaining to the procurement of communication system for the SPG. Even though no explosive operational secrets have been revealed in the book, much more information, including the modus operandi of RAW is just one click away on the internet from the wikipedia. the sharp reaction by RAW appears to be a damage control exercise, firstly as the author has indicated a few officer, responsible for various lapses, by name and more importantly to avert the possibility of the organisation coming under the purview of some Parliamentary Committee, as suggested by the author.
The book is divided in 11 Chapters in addition to the Preface and the Epilogue, a list of abbreviations, Bibliography and an Index is also included.
In the Preface Gen VK Singh has dwelled on the compelling reasons, the lack of leadership and accountability in RAW, as perceived by him, for the incentive for writing the book.
Since the book has evoked so much interest, it may be a good idea to highlight the salient points Chapter wise.
Chapter I Deals about his induction in the organisation, where he has also name the senior officers, of his time, and their functions; The persons in any organisation keep changing over time in addition In RAW the designations of the various functionaries and the branches also keep changing, some times deliberately at others at it grows and evolves, so no secrets appeared to have been revealed.
Chapter2 Covers the History of RAW and how it came into being, though the case for its creation was initiated by Army, at the time of its inception the than
P M Indra Gandhi decided to keep it under her control. Research and Analysis Wing of Cabinet Secretariat was established on 21 September 1968 when RN KAO the former Director of IB along with 250 of his Boys moved from IB to the new entity. The Janta Government came heavily on RAW when it came in power in 1977 with severe cuts in its organisation and expenditure.
Chapter 3 Covers the author’s initial trial and tribulations and the process of his forming opinion about the organisation; the bloated size of the organisation, the heavy top the lack of leadership and accountability, foisted with the 9 to 5 culture of a typical Government organisation among others things noticed by him.
Chapter 4 The author covers in detail about the Telecom Division, where he was posted as Joint Secretary (Tele – TE/DM) responsible for setting up the data monitoring (Internet) facility and the procurement of telecom equipment. The ponderous and time consuming procedure followed, the malaise favourite dealers, wastage of funds, though bloated at top there was a problem of shortages at the working level especially for projects. The ‘outsider’ syndrome, the name of Amar Bhushan features for dropping the case of induction of service officer at the working level to the detriment of the organisation.
Chapter 5 ,6 and 7 In these chapter are included a few interesting case studies. Chapter 5, covers that for the procurement of VHF /UHF antenna ,how public money was squandered in their procurement and how the supplier benefited, also is implied the active support of some of the officers of Telecom Division and the procurement Cell . Chapter 6 details as to how the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite project for interconnectivity to all outside stations was stalled due to, in his view due to vested interests. Chapter 7deals with more sensitive case of the procurement by SPG of communication system from a particular dealer, despite reservation expressed by the representative of RAW on its venerability from the security angle
Chapter 8 Gives an account of the tragic death of one of the officers of RAW; the lifts of RAW had been prone to faults, earlier also one of the car had dropped down uncontrolled to stop at the bottom, injuring one person seriously.
Chapter 9 Covers Signal Intelligence in detail and would be of interest to those technically inclined and interested in the various facets of electronic intelligence gathering. The various terms like SIGINT, HUMINT, COMINT, ELINT and some new ones like INIENT have been explained. The author has also attempted to give details of what is happening in other countries in so far as SIGINT is concerned. The actions that were being taken towards the monitoring of the Internet and Under Sea Cable, during his tenure have also been referred to.
Chapter 10 Covers the disappearance of Rabinder Singh, a Major from Gurkhas when he joined RAW and rose to be a Joint Secretary. He a stocklly built and person of few words did not appear to be a potential RAW officer at first look, perhaps that was the reason for his induction. Rabinder had come under suspicion and was placed under suspension but managed to escape. How the case was botched and its implication have been covered in detail, once again the name of Amar Bhushan, a very senior but controversial officer of RAW, referred in the book at no less than 12 places ,non of them complementary, figures in this connection.
Chapter 11 The final chapter is interesting in that it brings out the rivalry between the three major intelligence RAW, I B and MI. the duplication and at times the triplication of effort by the different agencies and the resultant consequences. He also refers to the love-hate relationship between RAW and MEA. It is here in this chapter that the author writes about the intercept of the conversation between Musharraf and his chief of staff Lt Gen Aziz is referred to which was picked up by media and beaten to death. It was not the first time that such conversations were intercepted, much earlier the frantic talk between the rattled Pakistani Ambassador to China and President Gen Zeia about the possible consequences from the just concluded visit by Rajiv Ghandi to China, and requesting for some counter action.
12 Epilogue The author once again makes a strong case for introduction of checks and balances in the organisation as according to him there is no control to curb or restrict the activities of RAW.
He concludes by saying ‘If war is too serious a business to be left to generals, should not intelligence be considered too serious a business to be left to the spies.’
The book will make a good read for those technically inclined and interested in the various facets of electronic intelligence gathering, while it has enough material for the general reader, for him to remain reverted to the book, in giving some idea as to how RAW the premier foreign intelligence agency functions.
Brig Lakshman Singh VSM (Retd)
A valiant effort by the author, who needs to be commended for lifting the veil, even if a we bit, from our premier foreign intelligence agency and for giving some valid suggestions to make it more accountable to the people of India through overseeing by the Parliament, even at the possibility of some personal risk.
The book created quiet turmoil, both in the media and in RAW; the media did pick up, the two issues, those in its view had potential to be more sensational; the release of Musharrf intercepts that happened before the author joined RAW and the case pertaining to the procurement of communication system for the SPG. Even though no explosive operational secrets have been revealed in the book, much more information, including the modus operandi of RAW is just one click away on the internet from the wikipedia. the sharp reaction by RAW appears to be a damage control exercise, firstly as the author has indicated a few officer, responsible for various lapses, by name and more importantly to avert the possibility of the organisation coming under the purview of some Parliamentary Committee, as suggested by the author.
The book is divided in 11 Chapters in addition to the Preface and the Epilogue, a list of abbreviations, Bibliography and an Index is also included.
In the Preface Gen VK Singh has dwelled on the compelling reasons, the lack of leadership and accountability in RAW, as perceived by him, for the incentive for writing the book.
Since the book has evoked so much interest, it may be a good idea to highlight the salient points Chapter wise.
Chapter I Deals about his induction in the organisation, where he has also name the senior officers, of his time, and their functions; The persons in any organisation keep changing over time in addition In RAW the designations of the various functionaries and the branches also keep changing, some times deliberately at others at it grows and evolves, so no secrets appeared to have been revealed.
Chapter2 Covers the History of RAW and how it came into being, though the case for its creation was initiated by Army, at the time of its inception the than
P M Indra Gandhi decided to keep it under her control. Research and Analysis Wing of Cabinet Secretariat was established on 21 September 1968 when RN KAO the former Director of IB along with 250 of his Boys moved from IB to the new entity. The Janta Government came heavily on RAW when it came in power in 1977 with severe cuts in its organisation and expenditure.
Chapter 3 Covers the author’s initial trial and tribulations and the process of his forming opinion about the organisation; the bloated size of the organisation, the heavy top the lack of leadership and accountability, foisted with the 9 to 5 culture of a typical Government organisation among others things noticed by him.
Chapter 4 The author covers in detail about the Telecom Division, where he was posted as Joint Secretary (Tele – TE/DM) responsible for setting up the data monitoring (Internet) facility and the procurement of telecom equipment. The ponderous and time consuming procedure followed, the malaise favourite dealers, wastage of funds, though bloated at top there was a problem of shortages at the working level especially for projects. The ‘outsider’ syndrome, the name of Amar Bhushan features for dropping the case of induction of service officer at the working level to the detriment of the organisation.
Chapter 5 ,6 and 7 In these chapter are included a few interesting case studies. Chapter 5, covers that for the procurement of VHF /UHF antenna ,how public money was squandered in their procurement and how the supplier benefited, also is implied the active support of some of the officers of Telecom Division and the procurement Cell . Chapter 6 details as to how the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite project for interconnectivity to all outside stations was stalled due to, in his view due to vested interests. Chapter 7deals with more sensitive case of the procurement by SPG of communication system from a particular dealer, despite reservation expressed by the representative of RAW on its venerability from the security angle
Chapter 8 Gives an account of the tragic death of one of the officers of RAW; the lifts of RAW had been prone to faults, earlier also one of the car had dropped down uncontrolled to stop at the bottom, injuring one person seriously.
Chapter 9 Covers Signal Intelligence in detail and would be of interest to those technically inclined and interested in the various facets of electronic intelligence gathering. The various terms like SIGINT, HUMINT, COMINT, ELINT and some new ones like INIENT have been explained. The author has also attempted to give details of what is happening in other countries in so far as SIGINT is concerned. The actions that were being taken towards the monitoring of the Internet and Under Sea Cable, during his tenure have also been referred to.
Chapter 10 Covers the disappearance of Rabinder Singh, a Major from Gurkhas when he joined RAW and rose to be a Joint Secretary. He a stocklly built and person of few words did not appear to be a potential RAW officer at first look, perhaps that was the reason for his induction. Rabinder had come under suspicion and was placed under suspension but managed to escape. How the case was botched and its implication have been covered in detail, once again the name of Amar Bhushan, a very senior but controversial officer of RAW, referred in the book at no less than 12 places ,non of them complementary, figures in this connection.
Chapter 11 The final chapter is interesting in that it brings out the rivalry between the three major intelligence RAW, I B and MI. the duplication and at times the triplication of effort by the different agencies and the resultant consequences. He also refers to the love-hate relationship between RAW and MEA. It is here in this chapter that the author writes about the intercept of the conversation between Musharraf and his chief of staff Lt Gen Aziz is referred to which was picked up by media and beaten to death. It was not the first time that such conversations were intercepted, much earlier the frantic talk between the rattled Pakistani Ambassador to China and President Gen Zeia about the possible consequences from the just concluded visit by Rajiv Ghandi to China, and requesting for some counter action.
12 Epilogue The author once again makes a strong case for introduction of checks and balances in the organisation as according to him there is no control to curb or restrict the activities of RAW.
He concludes by saying ‘If war is too serious a business to be left to generals, should not intelligence be considered too serious a business to be left to the spies.’
The book will make a good read for those technically inclined and interested in the various facets of electronic intelligence gathering, while it has enough material for the general reader, for him to remain reverted to the book, in giving some idea as to how RAW the premier foreign intelligence agency functions.
Brig Lakshman Singh VSM (Retd)