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R&AW: Aligning Propensity with Modern Tradecraft Realities

R&AW, India's external intelligence agency, is at a crossroads, needing to adapt to a rapidly changing global threat matrix. As the scope of covert operations expands, the agency must align its strategic propensity with modern tradecraft realities.

By Srijan Sharma
New Update
R&AW’s Changing Propensity Must Align With Tradecraft Realities

R&AW’s Changing Propensity Must Align With Tradecraft Realities | Courtesy: Special arrangement

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R&AW, India's external intelligence agency is at a crossroads. The prolonged struggle, escalating over a year and culminating in what many view as an ambush, has placed the Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), under intense scrutiny. Observers are questioning R&AW’s tradecraft, casting doubt on the operational finesse expected of an agency tasked with safeguarding national interests. But the criticism surrounding R&AW’s methods only tells part of the story. Tradecraft alone doesn’t define an intelligence agency's success; its effectiveness also hinges on the strategic outlook and instinctive actions taken in response to evolving global threats.

From Collective Intelligence to Strategic Offensive

R&AW grew from a foundation influenced by British intelligence objectives during post-Independence India. Initially, intelligence operations centered around broad, collective goals, with the British using the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to track Soviet activity. This phase, marked by the presence of MI6 officials guiding intelligence flows, set a unique tone for India’s intelligence culture. However, R&AW’s establishment in 1968 signaled a shift, exemplified by its decisive role in the 1971 conflict with Pakistan, marking the agency’s early promise.

As turmoil intensified in Kashmir and insurgencies plagued Punjab, R&AW evolved, strategically expanding its network and taking measured offensive stances in the region. The establishment of CIT-X units, later dissolved under the I.K. Gujral government, showcased a brief era where R&AW experimented with more assertive methods. Yet, R&AW’s approach largely remained one of “soft neutralisation” — expanding its regional footprint through influence and exposure, rather than aggression. A notable instance was its operations in Bangladesh during the military regime of Ershad, a pro-Pakistan leader, where R&AW adeptly maneuvered to maintain influence without overtly hostile actions.

However, successive intelligence lapses — from Kargil in 1999 to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks — exposed the limitations of R&AW’s traditional, bureaucratically hampered framework. These incidents unve

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