WASHINGTON: India’s prime intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has engaged in disinformation campaigns, espionage and sabotage against Pakistan and other neighboring countries with the backing of successive Indian governments in these efforts, according to Global Security, an authoritative US security and intelligence information group.According to the group, “RAW has an extensive network of agents and anti-government elements within Pakistan, including dissident elements from various sectarian and ethnic groups of Sindh and Punjab. Published reports allege that as many as 35,000 RAW agents have entered Pakistan between 1983-93, with 12,000 are working in Sindh, 10000 in Punjab 8000 in North West Frontier Province and 5000 in Balochistan. As many as 40 terrorist training camps at Rajasthan, East Punjab, Held Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India are run by the RAW’s Special Service Bureau (SSB).”Over the years, RAW has “assumed a significant role in formulating India’s domestic and foreign policies. Working directly under the Prime Minister, the structure, rank, pay and perks of the Research & Analysis Wing are kept secret from Parliament.” Current policy debates in India have generally failed to focus on the relative priority given by RAW to activities directed against India’s neighbours versus attention to domestic affairs to safeguard India’s security and territorial integrity, said Global Security. In 1968, said the group, India established this special branch of its intelligence service “specifically targeted on Pakistan.” The formation of RAW was based on the belief that Pakistan was supplying weapons to Sikh terrorists, and providing shelter and training to the guerrillas in Pakistan. Pakistan has accused the Research and Analysis Wing of sponsoring sabotage in Punjab, where RAW is alleged to have supported the Seraiki movement, providing financial support to promote its activities in Pakistan and organising an International Seraiki Conference in Delhi in November-December 1993. Global Security recalled that throughout the Afghan War, RAW was responsible for the planning and execution of terrorist activities in Pakistan to deter Pakistan from support of Afghan liberation movement against India’s ally, the Soviet Union. The assistance provided to RAW by the KGB enabled RAW to arrange terrorist attacks in Pakistani cities throughout the Afghan War. The defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan did not end the role of RAW in Pakistan, with reports that suggest that India has established a training camp in the town of Qadian, in East Punjab, where non-Muslim Pakistanis are trained for terrorist activities. The group pointed out however that the Government of Pakistan frequently assigns responsibility for terrorist activity to the Indian Government.Global Security listed the terrorist activities in Pakistan attributed to the clandestine activities of Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies include: a car bomb explosion in Saddar area of Peshawar on 21 December 1995 caused the deaths of 37 persons and injured over 50 others; an explosion at Shaukat Khanum Hospital on 14 April 1996, claimed the lives of seven persons and injured to over 34 others; a bus travelling from Lahore to Sahiwal was blown up at Bhai Pheru on 28 April 1996, causing the deaths of 44 persons on the spot and injuring 30 others; an explosion in a bus near the Sheikhupura hospital killed 9 persons and injured 29 others on 08 May 1996; an explosion near Alam chowk, Gujranwala on 10 June 1996 killed 3 persons and injured 11 others; a bomb exploded on a bus on GT Road near Kharian on 10 June 1996, killing 2 persons and injuring 10 others; on 27 June 1996, an explosion opposite Madrassah Faizul Islam, Faizabad, Rawalpindi, killed 5 persons and injured over 50 others and a bomb explosion in the Faisalabad railway station passenger lounge on 08 July 1996 killed 3 persons and injured 20 others. Global Security said, “RAW has responded to Pakistani arms and training for militants in Kashmir. RAW allegedly executed a hijacking of an Indian Airliner to Lahore in 1971 which was attributed to the Kashmiris, to give a terrorist dimension to the Kashmiri national movement. However soon the extent of RAW’s involvement was made public.” Global Security said, “The Indian embassy’s covert activities are reported to include the infitration of US long-distance telephone carriers by Indian operatives, with access to all kinds of information, to blackmail relatives of US residents living in India.”
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