Spy with ISI links
IT is a matter of grave concern that an Indian national working at the country’s Embassy in Moscow was allegedly involved in espionage on behalf of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which arrested Satendra Siwal last week, has stated that he was taking money to provide confidential information regarding the activities of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian military establishment. Siwal had been working for the MEA and was posted as an ‘India-based security assistant’ at the Embassy in Russia since 2021. According to the ATS, electronic and physical surveillance revealed that he was carrying out anti-India activities in league with a network of ISI handlers.
Even as the MEA and the ATS try to get to the bottom of the spy ring, the episode is a grim reminder of the machinations of the ISI, which has been at the forefront in implementing Pakistan’s military doctrine of bleeding India with a thousand cuts. The spy agency’s role in fanning the flames of terrorism in J&K and Punjab over the decades is no secret. This is the third time in the past seven months that an MEA staffer has been arrested for links with the ISI, which leaves no room for doubt that Pakistan is using Indian citizens to commit espionage against India.
New Delhi needs to be watchful of Pakistan’s gameplan, especially with the neighbour set to have a new government after the polls to be held this week. Surveillance must be increased at Indian embassies and missions around the world. The recruitment of non-diplomatic and junior staff should also be done with due diligence. Thorough verification of their credentials is an imperative. Counter-espionage and counter-intelligence techniques should be fine-tuned to weed out the moles before they cause irreparable damage. India cannot afford to let the ISI infiltrate its embassies and sensitive offices in a bid to destabilise the country.
