Disquiet in Delhi over US, Aussie reports on ‘Indian spy operations’

The Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald said that two Indian “spies” were asked to leave.

“The so-called foreign ‘nest of spies’ disrupted by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in 2020 was also accused of closely monitoring Indians living here and developing close relationships with current and former politicians,” the ABC reported.

Just a day earlier, on Monday, The Washington Post identified the intelligence official involved in the assassination plot of pro-Khalistan Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and sought to establish links with top officials in the Indian intelligence and security establishment.

Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the report makes “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations” on a “serious matter”. He also pointed to the “ongoing probe” by the high-level panel to look into security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organised criminals, terrorists and others.

According to ABC, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess had “alluded” to the spy network in his annual threat assessment in 2021 but didn’t disclose which country was allegedly behind it. Burgess had reportedly detailed how the spies cultivated and recruited an Australian government security clearance holder who had access to “sensitive details of defence technology,” ABC reported.

The Indian government has not yet responded to ABC’s revelations, especially since the Australian government has not lent its weight behind the claims published in the media.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, when asked about the report that the Indian government was behind the “nest of spies,” said Wednesday: “Well, you would be unsurprised to hear me respond that we don’t comment on intelligence matters. But at a level of principle about democracy, I think you would have heard me and other Ministers on many occasions assert the importance of our democratic principles, assert the importance of ensuring that we maintain the resilience of our democracy, including in the face of any suggestion of foreign interference, and we have laws to deal with that. And to continue to say that we deeply value the multicultural fabric of the Australian community. It is a strength and we welcome people’s continued engagement in our democracy.”

Sources said that there is a feeling shared in South Block and North Block (which house the Ministries of External and Home affairs) — that Western agencies are trying to “draw a red line” with India, a key partner in the Quad grouping.

That it is coming in the middle of a heated election season in India gives meat to New Delhi’s belief that its Western partners are keen that the next government — post June 4 — will be more “sensitive” about its operations overseas, especially in those countries. (with PTI)