Image Credentials: Image Title: New Delhi’s Strategic Shadows The Growing Reach of India’s Covert Operations Source: (sora.openai) Date: March 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
ISLAMABAD — As Pakistan continues to play a pivotal role in mediating indirect peace talks between the United States and Iran, a new analysis of regional security warns that India is increasingly leaning on covert intelligence operations to project power and destabilize its neighbors.
In an editorial published Thursday, security analysts highlighted a troubling pattern in New Delhi’s foreign policy, characterized by a heavy reliance on espionage and extrajudicial actions. While traditional diplomacy often takes a backseat, India’s intelligence services, most notably the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), have reportedly expanded their footprint from the Middle East to North America.
A History of Interference
The scrutiny comes amid a series of high-profile international incidents that have put India’s intelligence apparatus in the global spotlight. Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged “credible intelligence” linked Indian agents to the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil, an accusation that sent diplomatic relations between Ottawa and New Delhi into a tailspin.
Closer to home, the case of Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav remains a “glaring testament” to India’s efforts against Pakistan. Jadhav, an Indian naval officer arrested in Balochistan in 2016, was convicted of espionage and terrorism. Analysts argue that Jadhav’s activities were not an isolated incident but part of a broader “spy game” designed to undermine Pakistani internal security.
Covert Ops Over Diplomacy
According to Rizwan Zeb, a prominent strategic analyst, India has mastered the art of covert operations whenever direct military involvement or traditional diplomacy is deemed unfeasible. This “wilderness of mirrors,” as described by legendary American spymaster James Angleton, has seen India engage in everything from supporting militant groups like the LTTE in Sri Lanka in the 1980s to modern-day cyber warfare.
“New Delhi is under the delusion that it can dominate the game,” Zeb wrote, “ignoring a vital lesson: patterns matter more than promises.”
The Regional Backdrop
The focus on India’s “spy game” coincides with a period of intense diplomatic activity for Islamabad. Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated Thursday that India appears “increasingly uneasy” over Pakistan’s active role in easing tensions in the Middle East. As Pakistan relays messages between Washington and Tehran to prevent a full-scale regional war, New Delhi has found itself largely sidelined from the peace process.
Furthermore, while India positions itself as a maritime partner in the Indo-Pacific, critics argue its strategic reality remains “overwhelmingly continental,” focused primarily on its borders with China and Pakistan. This land-based focus, combined with a penchant for shadow warfare, has raised concerns among human rights organizations and regional neighbors alike.
Human Rights Concerns
The geopolitical tension is further exacerbated by the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir. On Thursday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office reiterated calls for India to release Kashmiri women leaders and uphold fundamental civil liberties in Srinagar, where the closure of the historic Jamia Masjid continues to draw international condemnation.
As the “spy game” intensifies, regional observers warn that India’s reliance on covert tactics may ultimately backfire, isolating New Delhi at a time when the world is looking for stable, transparent leadership to navigate the ongoing global energy and security crises.