RAW (Research and Analysis wing) is India’s External Intelligence agency. It came into existence on September 21st, 1968, after the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the India-Pakistan War of 1965 need for a separate external intelligence agency was felt. Headquartered at New Delhi. Before 1968, Intelligence Bureau (IB) was responsible for India’s Internal as well as External Intelligence. Some interesting facts of RAW are discussed in this article.
RAW (Research and Analysis wing) is India’s External Intelligence agency. It came into existence on September 21st, 1968, after the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the India-Pakistan War of 1965 need for a separate external intelligence agency was felt. Before 1968, Intelligence Bureau (IB) was responsible for India’s Internal as well as External Intelligence. Headquartered at New Delhi. RAW’s first director was Rameshwar Nath Kao.
The objective of the organisation was to strengthen its capability for intelligence gathering on Pakistan and China and for the action in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Further objectives of RAW (Research and Analysis wing) are broadened like monitoring the military and political developments in adjoining countries, India’s national security and in the formulation of its Foreign Policy, seeking the control and limitation of the supply of military hardware to Pakistan mostly from European countries, The United States and China.
Top Facts about RAW (Research and Analysis wing)
1. In 1971, RAW played an important role in the creation of Bangladesh.
RAW played an important role in supporting Mukti Bahini a Bangladeshi guerrilla organisation by providing them training, intelligence and ammunition. Pakistani army’s movement in East Pakistan was also disrupted by RAW. And finally Bangladesh was created.
2. Operation Meghdoot
In 1984 RAW provided an information about Pakistan that they are planning an incursion in the Siachin glacier to capture Saltoro Ridge as a part of operation Ababeel. So, Indian Army launched Operation Meghdoot and around 300 troops were deployed there. As a result Pakistan Army pushed back its troops to capture the strategic peak.
3. RAW kept India’s first nuclear test secret successfully i.e. Operation Smiling Buddha
Also in 1974 RAW played a vital role in keeping the secrecy of the first India’s nuclear test. Even countries like China and USA were unaware about such activity by India.
4. ‘The Black Tiger’ Ravindra Kaushik, who was he and what he did?
Ravindra Kaushik was a famous theatre artist and placed as a spy by RAW officials in 1975 to Pakistan where he managed to join Pakistani army and rose to the rank of ‘major’. He saved thousands of Indians lives by sending valuable information to the Intelligence agencies. And so, he was given the title ‘Black Tiger’ by RAW.