The Spies Who Were Left In The Cold

I happened to come across a rare write-up by National Security Advisor AK Doval. It was his reaction to something that appeared in The Hindu newspaper. I have reproduced the letter in full below and my own comments follow thereafter. For those who may be interested in the link to the newspaper, here it is: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/clarification-and-apology/article5674485.ece

"Clarification and Apology

The former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, A.K. Doval, writes:

My friends from different parts of India have drawn my attention to your editorial, >“Moment of truth for India” (Feb. 8, 2014), which stated that I had “candidly said” the operation that led the President of India to award the coveted Kirti Chakra to me involved “the killing of a Pakistani spy, the illegal detention of terrorism suspects and smuggling across international borders.”

This is a totally false and fabricated statement. The reason for conferring the Kirti Chakra on me is no secret and was published in the Gazette notification issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 26, 1989. Your version is in no way related to it.

No one in the last 25 years has ever challenged or even remotely cast any aspersion on the award of the Kirti Chakra to me. Earlier, the Indian Police Medal was awarded to me, as a one-time exception in six years of service — a national record that I still hold. At that point, Pakistan had not even launched its terrorist offensive against India. It has also been wrongly asserted in the editorial that the source of the offending words was my “candid” statement, which is false and baseless. This cannot be a normal slip which occurs in day-to-day and overnight journalism, because editorials are written after careful verification of facts and contemplation. Therefore, the facts on which editorials are based are believed by readers as needing no further verification. In effect, an editorial implicitly testifies to the facts on which it is based. The false statements in the impugned editorial can be quoted by others as “evidence” in future. You can imagine the extent of damage the impugned editorial has the potential to cause to my reputation but, more importantly, to the national institutions engaged in the security of our country and the safety of its people.

Along with me, the Kirti Chakra is also demeaned — which is a national disservice. It must be understood that citations for gallantry awards are approved only after due verification and vetting at various levels in the government. Therefore, questioning the basis for the presentation of gallantry awards not only undermines state institutions, including the highest office in the country, but can also adversely impact the morale of the security forces. Additionally, as one with experience on the subject, I would like to add that the contention in your editorial that “every time” intelligence agencies “run trans-border operations or plant moles in terrorist groups, they break the law,” betrays poor understanding both of law and national security.

I was shocked even more because this editorial appeared in The Hindu, which has a nationwide reputation for reliability and credibility. The more credible a newspaper, the more harm and damage any false statement in it causes to the injured person — which in this case happens to be me.

The Hindu regrets the error and conveys its apologies to Mr. Doval. — Editor-in-Chief"

My remarks:

My little understanding of intelligence agencies and their work notwithstanding, Mr. Doval does have a point and The Hindu did apologise. Details are in the report printed verbatim above.

Mr. Doval was rightly hurt by what the editorial said about the reason for his Kirti Chakra. Such awards come rare, rarer for a non-military officer to win it. The newspaper was its gracious self and printed its apology. 

But that is not my point. 

Over the years, Indian intelligence agencies have done yeoman service in protecting the country. In nearly all cases, their valour goes unrecognised because of the very secretive nature of their work. That is the irony.

Having said that, I bring attention to another point raised by Mr. Doval:

"Therefore, questioning the basis for the presentation of gallantry awards not only undermines state institutions, including the highest office in the country, but can also adversely impact the morale of the security forces. Additionally, as one with experience on the subject, I would like to add that the contention in your editorial that “every time” intelligence agencies “run trans-border operations or plant moles in terrorist groups, they break the law,” betrays poor understanding both of law and national security."

Simply, put, the observation, to my mind, indirectly states two things. One, trans-border operations are run. Two, they are not necessarily illegal. Mr. Doval has been one of the most decorated and daring spies, ever. He will never acknowledge in public, understandably. But he knows these things.

The point I make is this: There are many Indians in Pakistani jails. Many of them have been there for decades. Most of them claim that they were spies. They claim that they entered Pakistan to gather intelligence and got caught. The so-called deniability clause distances such persons from their country's security establishment.

Mr. Doval, if at all the claims of even one of the prisoners are true, what do wehave to say about it? You see, you got hurt by a newspaper's editorial. What about the quantum and depth of hurt of that spy who stands forsaken by his bosses, his so-called intelligence activity unacknowledged? What about his morale?