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How a Prime Minister’s Actions Reportedly Led to the Deaths of RAW Agents

The claim that Morarji Desai, former Prime Minister of India, was directly responsible for the deaths of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officials is a serious and controversial allegation, primarily linked to his handling of Operation Kahuta, a covert intelligence operation in the late 1970s.

The narrative, drawn from various sources including books, articles, and online discussions, centers on Desai’s alleged disclosure of sensitive RAW intelligence to Pakistan’s leadership, which reportedly led to the exposure and elimination of Indian intelligence assets.

Below is a detailed examination of the context, events, and differing perspectives surrounding this issue, maintaining a thorough and professional approach.

Background and Context

Morarji Desai served as India’s Prime Minister from March 1977 to July 1979, leading the Janata Party government, the first non-Congress government in India’s history. His tenure followed the controversial Emergency period (1975–1977) under Indira Gandhi, during which RAW, India’s external intelligence agency founded in 1968, had gained significant influence under its first chief, R.N. Kao. Desai, a staunch Gandhian with a reputation for principled governance, had a complex relationship with RAW, partly due to his belief that the agency had been misused by Indira Gandhi to target political opponents during the Emergency.

The specific incident in question relates to Operation Kahuta, a RAW operation launched in 1977 to infiltrate Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program at the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in Kahuta. At the time, Pakistan was aggressively pursuing nuclear capabilities, seen as a direct threat to India’s security, especially after India’s own nuclear test in 1974. RAW had developed a sophisticated network of spies and assets in Pakistan, and by 1977–1978, the agency had gathered critical intelligence about Pakistan’s nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment capabilities.

The Alleged Incident: Desai’s Role in Compromising Operation Kahuta

According to multiple sources, RAW had a significant opportunity to disrupt Pakistan’s nuclear program during Desai’s tenure. A Pakistani agent reportedly offered the complete blueprint of the Kahuta nuclear facility for $10,000, a sum that required the Prime Minister’s approval due to foreign exchange regulations. RAW approached Desai for funding to execute this covert operation, which could have allowed India to gain a strategic advantage over Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions. However, Desai reportedly rejected the request, citing ethical concerns and his commitment to Gandhian principles of non-interference and peaceful coexistence with neighbors.

More critically, several accounts claim that Desai went further by disclosing India’s intelligence on Pakistan’s nuclear program to General Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s military ruler, during a telephone conversation in 1978. According to B. Raman, a former senior RAW officer and noted security analyst, Desai informed Zia that India was aware of Pakistan’s nuclear activities at Kahuta, inadvertently or deliberately revealing details about RAW’s intelligence network in Pakistan. This disclosure allegedly prompted Zia to launch a ruthless counterintelligence operation, leading to the identification, torture, and execution of RAW agents and assets operating in Pakistan.

Key points from these accounts include:

Desai’s Disclosure: Desai’s revelation to Zia is described as a catastrophic blunder, with some sources suggesting it was motivated by his Gandhian belief in transparency and honesty, while others argue it stemmed from a vendetta against RAW, which he viewed as Indira Gandhi’s “praetorian guard.”
Impact on RAW’s Network: Pakistan’s intelligence services, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), reportedly dismantled RAW’s entire spy network in Pakistan. Agents were hunted down, tortured, and killed, severely weakening India’s intelligence capabilities in the region.
Operation Kahuta’s Failure: The operation, which could have potentially delayed or disrupted Pakistan’s nuclear program, collapsed due to the loss of RAW’s assets and the lack of funding approval from Desai.
Pakistan’s Gratitude: In 1990, Desai was awarded the Nishan-e-Pakistan, Pakistan’s highest civilian honor, which some critics cite as evidence of Pakistan’s appreciation for his actions, though others argue it was for his broader peace activism.

Supporting Evidence and Sources

Several credible sources corroborate the narrative of Desai’s role in compromising RAW’s operations:

B. Raman’s Writings: In his book The Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane, Raman, a former RAW officer, details how Desai’s indiscretion during a conversation with Zia led to the elimination of RAW’s agents in Kahuta. He describes Desai’s aversion to RAW and his budget cuts to the agency as contributing factors.
Media Reports: Articles from outlets like India TV, DailyO, and Swarajya recount how Desai’s actions botched Operation Kahuta, emphasizing his disclosure to Zia and the subsequent loss of RAW agents. These reports often cite Raman’s accounts and other intelligence sources.
Online Discussions: Posts on platforms like X and Quora reflect public sentiment and historical discussions, with users citing Desai’s actions as a betrayal that enabled Pakistan to advance its nuclear program. For example, posts mention Desai’s refusal to fund RAW’s operation and his direct communication with Zia as key factors in the deaths of RAW agents.
Other Accounts: Authors like Heinz Duthel (Global Secret and Intelligence Services II) and articles in Indian Defence Review echo Raman’s claims, describing Desai as inadvertently playing the role of a “mole” by compromising India’s intelligence operations.

Alternative Perspectives and Defenses

While the narrative of Desai’s culpability is widely discussed, some sources and perspectives offer a more nuanced or defensive view:

Gandhian Ideology: Desai’s supporters argue that his actions were driven by a sincere commitment to Gandhian principles of truthfulness and peaceful coexistence. They contend that he believed transparency with Pakistan could foster trust and reduce tensions, especially after the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
Lack of Malice: Some accounts suggest Desai’s disclosure was unintentional, a result of diplomatic naivety rather than deliberate betrayal. For instance, Raman notes that Zia maintained regular contact with Desai, discussing topics like urine therapy to build rapport, which may have led Desai to lower his guard.
Political Context: Desai’s distrust of RAW was rooted in its perceived misuse by Indira Gandhi during the Emergency. His budget cuts and skepticism toward the agency were part of a broader effort to curb what he saw as an overreaching intelligence apparatus.
Counterarguments on Impact: A Quora post defends Desai, arguing that he was a principled leader who prioritized peace and transparency, and dismisses accusations of betrayal as exaggerated or politically motivated. It claims that attributing the deaths of RAW agents solely to Desai oversimplifies the complexities of intelligence operations.
Broader Achievements: Desai’s defenders highlight his contributions, such as restoring democratic norms post-Emergency, undoing constitutional amendments made during the Emergency, and his peace activism, for which he was awarded India’s Bharat Ratna and Pakistan’s Nishan-e-Pakistan.

Critical Analysis

The evidence suggests that Desai’s actions, whether intentional or not, had severe consequences for RAW’s operations in Pakistan. His refusal to fund Operation Kahuta and his alleged disclosure to Zia-ul-Haq are widely cited as pivotal moments that led to the deaths of RAW agents and the failure of a critical intelligence mission. However, several points warrant deeper consideration:

Verification of Claims: Much of the narrative relies on secondary sources, such as B. Raman’s memoirs and media reports, which, while credible, are not primary documents like declassified government records. The exact details of Desai’s conversation with Zia remain unverified through official channels, as intelligence matters are typically classified.
Desai’s Motivations: The debate over whether Desai acted out of Gandhian idealism, personal vendetta against RAW, or diplomatic miscalculation remains unresolved. His broader foreign policy emphasized peace with Pakistan and China, aligning with his rejection of covert operations that could escalate tensions.
Shared Responsibility: Some sources note that other members of the Janata Party government, including Foreign Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Information Minister L.K. Advani, could have influenced or mitigated Desai’s decisions but did not. This suggests a collective failure rather than Desai’s sole responsibility.
Long-Term Impact: The compromise of RAW’s network is said to have weakened India’s intelligence capabilities, contributing to challenges like the Kashmiri Pandit exodus and Pakistan’s nuclear advancement. However, attributing these broader outcomes solely to Desai’s actions may oversimplify complex geopolitical dynamics.

Conclusion

Morarji Desai’s alleged role in the deaths of RAW officials stems from his handling of Operation Kahuta, where his refusal to fund a covert operation and his reported disclosure of RAW’s intelligence network to Pakistan’s Zia-ul-Haq led to the dismantling of India’s spy network in Pakistan. Credible sources, including B. Raman’s accounts and media reports, describe this as a grave blunder that resulted in the torture and execution of RAW agents, undermining India’s ability to counter Pakistan’s nuclear program. While some defend Desai’s actions as rooted in Gandhian principles or diplomatic intent, the consensus among intelligence analysts is that his decisions had catastrophic consequences for India’s national security.

Desai’s legacy remains polarized: he is celebrated for his democratic reforms and peace activism but criticized for what many view as a betrayal of India’s intelligence community. The incident underscores the delicate balance between transparency and secrecy in national security, a lesson that continues to resonate in India’s intelligence operations.

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