The Indian government has not yet responded to ABC’s revelations, especially since the Australian government has not lent its weight behind the claims published in the media.
Reports in the US and Australian media about operations allegedly by Indian “intelligence officials” overseas has caught the establishment off-guard and there is a sense of disquiet in New Delhi at what it sees as a “concerted pushback” from its key Western strategic partners, sources said.
On Tuesday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that “Indian spies were kicked out of Australia after being caught trying to steal secrets about sensitive defence projects and airport security, as well as classified information on Australia’s trade relationships”.
The Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald said that two Indian “spies” were asked to leave.
“The so-called foreign ‘nest of spies’ disrupted by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in 2020 was also accused of closely monitoring Indians living here and developing close relationships with current and former politicians,” the ABC reported.
Just a day earlier, on Monday, The Washington Post identified the intelligence official involved in the assassination plot of pro-Khalistan Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and sought to establish links with top officials in the Indian intelligence and security establishment.
Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the report makes “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations” on a “serious matter”. He also pointed to the “ongoing probe” by the high-level panel to look into security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organised criminals, terrorists and others.
According to ABC, ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess had “alluded” to the spy network in his annual threat assessment in 2021 but didn’t disclose which country was allegedly behind it. Burgess had reportedly detailed how the spies cultivated and recruited an Australian government security clearance holder who had access to “sensitive details of defence technology,” ABC reported.