India, Pakistan ex-spies spark furore with secret book project

ISLAMABAD: It began with hushed conversations in hotels dotted around Asia, and resulted in a nearly unthinkable book: ‘Spy Chronicles’, a secret collaboration by former intelligence chiefs of India and Pakistan that has caused uproar in Islamabad.

The book, published last month, was co-authored by retired General Asad Durrani, head of Pakistan’s Inter- Services Intelligence ( ISI) between 1990 and 1992, and his counterpart A S Dulat, who led India’s Research and Analysis Wing ( RAW) from 1999-2000.

They are the two most powerful intelligence agencies in the neighbouring countries, who have been fierce adversaries since Partition in 1947.

“The CIA and the KGB had lines of communication, even at the height of the Cold War. But ISI and RAW don’t,” Indian journalist Aditya Sinha, who facilitated the conversations, told AFP.

The project, which he said was conducted covertly, took two and a half years to complete.

In India, where New Delhi’s Kashmir policy has been severely and widely criticised, ‘Spy Chronicles’ received a fairly positive reception and Dulat gave televised interviews.

But in Pakistan, Durrani’s claims – which often go against the official line – were swiftly vilified.

Adding to the uproar, a fake Twitter account posting polarising comments was created in his name. It has since been disabled.

Late last month, the former spy chief was summoned by the military to explain himself. He was also forbidden to leave the country.

He was not given permission to write the book, military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a press conference on Monday, adding: “When you commit a mistake there will be a strong reaction”. — AFP