SIKANDAR NOORANI
Award of death penalty to eight Indian naval retired officials on the charges of espionage in Qatar is an eye opener episode. These eight persons comprising four commanders, three captains and a sailor of Indian naval forces were arrested over the spying charges in August 2022. Detailed investigations led to the formal trial of the arrested spies in March this year. Latest verdict of Qatari judiciary is an authentic endorsement of proven spying charges against Indian retired naval officers.
Reportedly, employing firm Dhara Global had tasked all these Indian naval officials on a sensitive sub-marine project of Qatar. Brief disclosure about proven spying connection of these eight convicted Indian naval personnel with Israel seems a tip of ice berg. Indian external ministry has promptly admitted the shocking impact of this verdict and tried to tone down the issue with cautiously phrased diplomatic response. However, crafty diplomacy is too less to shroud the wider exposure of sinister spy games. Busting of espionage racket in Qatar seems a well-connected chain of Indian state sponsored foul play in foreign territories.
Will India Answer? State Actors’ Hand in Espionage, Assassinations and Terrorism?
During past few weeks, sensational headlines in international media about India have triggered logical questions and observations which merit dispassionate brain storming on the dubious role of New Delhi -:
One: How India as a state can disassociate from the collective conviction of its eight retired naval persons in high treason espionage?
Two: As a matter of routine, employment of retired defence forces veterans on sensitive security projects abroad takes place with formal approval of the government which is subject to strict vetting by intelligence agencies. Collective involvement of retired defence officials in Qatar espionage has further raised the dubious role of Indian state actors.
Three: Official stance of Canadian government about RAW sponsored assassination of Hardeep Singh in Surrey and subsequent wide diplomatic support was all about involvement of Indian state actors in transnational target killing spree.
Four: Principal stance of Pakistan on Indian state sponsored terrorism, espionage and third country-based proxies is getting validated with every passing day. Kulbhushan in custody of Pakistan and eight recently convicted spies in Qatar are the living proofs of destructive mindset prevailing in Indian state institutions.
Five: Busting of spying racket in Qatar is also a big dent to the so-called credibility of India as a state. Selling national security secrets of Qatar to Israel is no less than backstabbing a friendly country which trusted Indian state vetted officials for sensitive security projects.
Six: An unreliable state like India which never hesitates in targeting even its allies can go to any extent against declared adversary Pakistan. This factor alone is enough to validate the genuine concerns of Islamabad on international forums.
Indo-Israel Connection: A Nexus of Oppressors!
Trading of Qatar’s secrets with Israel is reflection of sinister multi-dimensional alignment between Tel Aviv and New Delhi -:
One: In the context of Arab- Israel traditional tense chemistry, India has emerged as a player deeply loyal to Tel Aviv.
Two: In total disregard to accommodative and welcoming approach of Muslim Arab states towards Indians; Modi led BJP regime is breaching the trust of friendly countries.
Three: Indian state level support to recent Israeli brutalities against Palestinians has further confirmed the Islamophobiac mindset prevailing in power corridors of New Delhi
Four: Warmth of Indo-Israel ties stems from commonalities of oppressive strategy adopted in Occupied Kashmir and Gaza respectively.
Indian Espionage: An Embarrassing Track Record
One wonders that why Bollywood continuously boosts the Indian forces with B- grade movies and web series. In recent years, focus of propaganda stuff has significantly shifted exclusively on projection of Indian Intelligence agencies as the handlers of the “best spies”. There is a method in the madness and many reasons too. A long track record of flop operations and busted espionage missions are few of the most pressing motives behind Bollywood boost up. A glance at some of undeniable Indian embarrassing exposures will corroborate the overall argument-:
Former Indian Navy Commander Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav (also spelled Kulbhushan Yadav alias Hussain Mubarak Patel), was arrested in Balochistan on charges of terrorism and spying for RAW in 2016.
Another Indian Army spy, Kashmir Singh, was arrested in 1973 on charges of espionage and smuggling. Later released in response to a mercy petition in 2008.
Indian agent Sarabjit Singh was arrested by Pakistan for hardcore terrorism in 1990.
Ravindra Kaushik sent by RAW on deep cover was arrested for joining Pak Army as commissioned officer in 1983. Manmohaman Sharma, Madhuri Gupta, Ravi Nair and Rabinder Singh are those names which remind us the deep failures of Indian over rated intelligence agencies reported extensively by international and regional media. Paucity of space hinders the detailed description of these cases. Undeniably, conviction of eight naval veterans in Qatar is a fresh endorsement to Indian policy of state sponsored espionage. Indian government and media is further supplementing the fact by repeating the arguments used against Pakistan at the time of Kulbhushan’s arrest.
(Writer is freelance columnist and can be reached at [email protected])
