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Sunday, July 20, 2025
TopicResearch and Analysis Wing

Topic: Research and Analysis Wing

ISI warning on Zakir Musa revenge plot was meant to give kiss of life to secret London spy-talks

India believed Bajwa, Pakistan’s then-army chief, was seeking to revive super-secret talks held in London between ISI and R&AW, which were stalled after Pulwama crisis, it is learnt.

Nijjar-Pannun effect: RAW downs shutters in North America 1st time since inception in 1968

One of two officers moved out was head of RAW station in San Francisco & another was second-in-command of its operations in London, it is learnt. RAW was founded in 1968.

Fear of India’s ‘assassins’? Islamabad ups security of terrorists who sought refuge in Pakistan

Report by The Intercept cites ‘secret documents’ from Pakistan’s IB to say R&AW is targeting ‘militant Sikh activists’ & that UAE has become base for Indian intelligence ops.

Israel-India spy diplomacy was almost derailed by ping-pong over table tennis contest visas in 1987

Israel was promised visas for team to attend table tennis tournament but MEA cancelled these — just as RAW chief was on his way to Tel Aviv to meet Mossad counterpart, it is learnt.

As India’s external intelligence operations expand globally, a growing army of spies left out in the cold

Row over killing of a Sikh secessionist makes it clear global spy services are keeping a close watch on Indian ops. But experts say recent detection of networks reflect poor spycraft. 

IPS officer Ravi Sinha named new RAW chief, will succeed Samant Kumar Goel

Sinha, a 1988 batch IPS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, is currently special secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat.

When CBI tapped then RAW No.2’s phone ‘without due procedure’ during Alok Verma-Rakesh Asthana row in 2018

The fact came to light as a special CBI court heard a bribery case stemming from an FIR filed against Rakesh Asthana on 15 October 2018 by CBI under Alok Verma.

R&AW officers abroad short on local language skills. Big challenge to intel gathering

Officers in crucial postings like China don't know the local language, says sources, which affects their work of raising and developing human intelligence or building local connections.

RAW ex-chief didn’t seek govt clearance for book. Why retired officers are slamming restriction

Amarjit Singh Dulat's failure to get clearance is seen as an alleged violation of a 2021 govt notification which has been slammed by many retired officers for being 'unconstitutional'.

RAW chief Goel could be longest-serving in decades, but Modi govt undecided on another extension

Samant Goel's tenure will end on 30 June unless he gets extension. Only a handful of RAW chiefs, such as founder R.N. Kao, have held the post for more than 3 years.

On Camera

Can Syria’s tiny Druze minority survive West Asia’s new storms? There’s little hope

Indians see West Asia as one uninterrupted wash of Islam, but the reality is more complex. For the Druze, support from Israel—where they are a recognised minority—is now critical.

India-US set to ink mini trade deal soon, reach understanding on agricultural & dairy products

Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.

Not just AK-203, India & Russia to jointly manufacture AK-19 and PPK-20 for domestic use and export 

India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.

Strategic partner one day, tactical nightmare the next: India’s learning Trumplomacy the hard way

Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.