Welcome to the world of espionage. It is not what we see in James Bond films for the author Vikram Sood (ex- RAW Chief) dispels that notion right at the outset. Most of it is dull, cold and ruthless with no place for sentimentality and flashy stuff. It is a consumer driven industry under the cloak of Government secrecy.
One gets a fair idea about how espionage is carried out, the recruitment of agents, analysis of information, agents double agents and moles and the multidisciplinary skill sets required for the job. The author takes a chronological approach and gives quite a detailed history of espionage from 1950s right up to the social media age. Although he can't be expected to divulge too much details for obvious reasons, he has given specific examples aplenty in support of his narrative.
For instance, the cat and mouse game the two superpowers indulged in during the Cold War and how a Communism paranoid USA used (still does) every tool at its disposal to keep it at bay makes for a gripping read.
It may come as a surprise to many of us how one event in history changed the nature of espionage and unshackled it from complete Government control to participation of private contractors. 9/11 gave rise to a billion dollars industry with a whole chain of contractors involved in outsourced work.
While the rise of internet is both boon and a bane for intelligence agencies, as private citizens where do we stand among all this is an eye opener. The book has shredded the concept of " privacy " to pieces for it doesn't exist anymore. It exists only in the imagination of people. Every social media behaviour is a data and is under surveillance.
The ex-spy chief also throws a moral dilemma at us by asking whether we are willing to accept curb on our freedom for the sake of safety and security through surveillance as newer threats emerge.
Towards the end he throws light on the shortcomings of the Indian system and it's impact on the working of our two agencies.
For example, it is dangerous for a country when it's espionage agencies have to provide intelligence to suit the narrative of the political leadership.
He also touches upon what is the way forward if espionage agencies have to remain relevant and be able to protect the citizens and national interests in the future.
Now let's look at some of the revelations that the book makes:
1) Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto is the Father of the Pakistani bomb and not the rogue Abdul Qadeer Khan as widely held.
2) During a meeting with the Pakistani dictator General Zia-Ul-Haq, a slip of tongue by an Indian PM undid years of painstaking work by RAW.
3) One former PM was alleged to be a CIA informer. I won't disclose the name for the sake of keeping the mystery alive.
4) Pakistani military wants to control Afghanistan not just for political influence over the Kabul Government but mainly to control the opium-narcotics trade as Afghanistan accounts for close to half of the $500 billion global trade. This money is used to keep the terror infrastructure well oiled.
5) Contrary to popular belief, neither Kargil in 1998 nor Mumbai in 2008 was a result of intelligence failure but because of the lethargy and complacency of the political leadership and the army to quite an extent as a consequence of having learnt no lessons from past attacks. The author terms it systemic failure.
The title of the book " The Unending Game" is apt because espionage never ceases and must not if a country, India in particular, has to take it's rightful place in the global order.
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