Spying in South Asia: Cold War intelligence and the making of modern India

Spying in South Asia: Cold War intelligence and the making of modern India

Author: Department of War Studies May 16, 2025 Duration: 55:16
How did Cold War intelligence operations shape postcolonial India’s domestic politics and international alignments? Why did Western agencies prioritise relationships with Indian counterparts while publicly decrying non-alignment? And what can today’s policymakers learn from the legacies of covert cooperation in the Global South? In this episode, Dr Paul McGarr, Lecturer in Intelligence Studies in the Department of War Studies, discusses his latest book Spying in South Asia. He explores the complex, often contradictory intelligence relationships between post-independence India and agencies such as MI5, MI6 and the CIA. From clandestine support to Cold War defections, and from covert propaganda campaigns to today's intelligence partnerships, Dr McGarr traces how secrecy, sovereignty and strategic necessity shaped India’s place in global affairs—and continues to inform the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific today.

Drawn from the work of the School of Security Studies at King's College London, War Studies offers a direct line to one of the world's largest and most dedicated academic communities focused on security, defence, and international relations. This isn't about surface-level headlines; each episode digs into the intricate realities of conflict, diplomacy, and global power. You'll hear scholars and researchers unpack the underlying forces that shape world affairs, moving beyond theory to examine the tangible challenges faced by those navigating these complex spaces. The Department of War Studies produces this podcast to share its world-leading research, treating each conversation as an opportunity to question assumptions and deepen understanding. Tuning in means engaging with rigorous analysis that connects academic insight to the pressing security issues of our time. The consistent thread is a belief that examining the nature of war is essential for comprehending the broader landscape of human conflict and cooperation. Expect thoughtful, evidence-driven discussions that refuse to simplify the difficult questions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

War Studies
Podcast Episodes
The legacy of the Yezidi genocide with Mirza Dinnayi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:55
In 2014, the self-styled Islamic State committed genocide against the Yezidi population in Iraq. To mark the anniversary of the genocide, Dr Inna Rudolf speaks to renowned Yezidi human rights advocate Mirza Dinnayi about…
Trump and the future of the Russia-Ukraine war [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:45
What would Trump’s return to the White House mean for Ukraine’s future and Europe’s security? How might his strategy for the war in Ukraine differ from the current administration’s? Can he deliver on his pledge to end th…
The power of open-source intelligence with Henrietta Wilson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:06
How is open-source data being used to uncover threats to human security, and what ethical challenges do practitioners face when working with open-source intelligence? In this episode, we delve into these questions with H…
The Strugle for Taiwan with Professor Sulmaan Khan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:27
What makes Taiwan such a crucial flashpoint in global politics? How has its historical journey shaped its current role on the world stage? In this special 'War Studies Podcast Live' episode, Dr Charlie Laderman, Senior L…
The Great Global Rebalancing with Dr Samir Puri [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:11
Are we witnessing the decline of Western power and influence? What could this mean for the future of the global order? In this episode, Dr. Samir Puri—former UK diplomat and Visiting Lecturer in the Department of War Stu…
What is the ‘logic’ of intergroup conflict? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:09
Why do groups enter into conflict when a peaceful resolution could be reached? Dr Nafees Hamid interviews Dr Hannes Rusch about his work examining the ‘logic’ of intergroup conflict. Dr Rusch talks us through the basic m…
Understanding conflict trauma and mental health in South Sudan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:33
*This episode was recorded in early March 2024, before the recent escalation of violence in Sudan. South Sudan may be the youngest country in the world, but it’s already undergone a huge amount of violence – and the ongo…
Building resilience to violent extremism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:11
What makes a person or a community resilient to violent extremism? Are these inherent characteristics or are they something that can be taught? ‘Resilience’ has become a buzzword in the field of countering violent extrem…
How greening initiatives can help promote peace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:13
After two decades of violent conflict in the city of Mosul, Iraq, Dr Omar Mohammed, founder of the Mosul Eye organisation, started a tree-planting initiative to help bring communities together. In the United States, Dr M…