The External Intelligence Service and Intelligence Bureau form the first arm of attack and defence, says ex-RAW chief

Vikram Sood, former secretary, Research and Analysis Wing and C. Balasubramanian, senior adviser, Deccan Center for International Affairs, were seen in conversation at an event in Chennai on Saturday. | Photo credit: M. SRINATH

Former Research and Analysis Wing Secretary Vikram Sood said on Saturday that the external intelligence agency and the Intelligence Bureau must work together as they form India’s first attack and defense arm.

Speaking in Chennai at an event organized by the Chennai International Center and the Deccan Center for International Affairs on the theme: “Hidden Wars and Great Power Games”, Mr. Sood in an interview with C. Balasubramanian said, “the external intelligence (agency) is the first component of the attack and the intelligence agency is the first component of the defense in geopolitics. These two events are so quickly converging and separating from each other. quickly…its quality, its depth, its disinformation…everything that you are thrown on your table, and I’m sure our men have found ways around them.’

Mr. Sood, who is the author of “Endless Game: Former R&AW Chief’s Views on Espionage,” “Final Goal: Former R&AW Chief Deconstructs How Nations Create Narratives” and “Great Power Games: From Western Decline to Eastern Ascent,” said the United States believed it could finish the job in Iran in days.

“But the Iranians were preparing, they knew it was going to happen, and after what they did in the Balkans in the 1990s, after what they did to Iraq (under George Bush), they knew it was going to be a ruthless attack on them,” he said.

On what Pakistan can do, Mr. Sood said they may be planning another attack, but the Saudis and Turks will not join the conflict.

“This is a local tie in the Middle East to keep Iran down … to tell Donald Trump we’re going to take care of our own security and we don’t want to buy anything from you,” he said.

He further added: “To say that America (US) has always fought for democracies is wrong. They didn’t. They fought for national interests. And at one stage they had sixty-five autocratic countries, non-democratic countries, supporting them and fighting for democracy.”

Published – 30 Aug 2026 01:30 IST