
ThePrint SecurityCode: 'India-US relationship has survived darker times. Intelligence ties bind us together'
Sep 10, 2025
The podcast dives into the complex history of US-India relations, highlighting the role of intelligence cooperation in overcoming political challenges. It reflects on how the early efforts of India's first intelligence chief helped lay the foundation for strong ties. The discussion also touches on past Cold War dynamics and the possibility of leveraging these connections for future diplomacy. Overall, it illustrates how enduring intelligence relationships can withstand even the most turbulent times.
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Spies Brokered Quiet Contact
- Even as leaders insulted each other, RAW and the CIA sought quiet contact to preserve ties.
- Prithwinath Dhar and R.N. Kao lobbied for CIA chief William Colby to visit India despite political fury.
Covert Alignment Behind Public Non-Alignment
- India built intelligence ties with the US despite public non-alignment and Cold War tensions.
- RAW and the CIA found overlapping interests in countering communist and Chinese threats.
Sanjeevi's 1949 Washington Mission
- T.S. Sanjeevi Pillai visited Washington in 1949 to seek help against the Telangana communist insurgency.
- He coordinated directly with CIA officers to secure practical support despite limited Indian resources.
