CIA’s Secret Bases in India: Insights from Declassified JFK Files

Recent disclosures from JFK assassination files indicate that the CIA operated secret bases in Kolkata and New Delhi for clandestine activities. The findings emerged from declassified documents released by former President Trump, which also reveal the CIA’s broader operations across Asia. Historical cooperation between India and the CIA is highlighted, illustrating the complexity of international intelligence relations during the Cold War.

Recent revelations regarding the John F. Kennedy assassination files have indicated the existence of CIA “secret bases” in Kolkata and New Delhi. These bases, often referred to as “black sites,” are utilized by the CIA for various confidential operations, including interrogation and detention of suspected terrorists. This information was disseminated by a Russian media outlet, RT, and shared in newly declassified files at the United States National Archives and Records Administration.

The CIA’s operations extend beyond India, with other identified bases located in cities such as Rawalpindi (Pakistan), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Tehran (Iran), Seoul (South Korea), and Tokyo (Japan). Historically, India has had a cooperative relationship with the CIA, as evidenced by a 2013 report stating that India permitted the United States to use the Charbatia air base in Odisha for refueling CIA’s U-2 spy planes during tensions with China in 1962.

The JFK assassination files were released by former US President Donald Trump as part of a commitment to enhance transparency regarding the pivotal event of 1963. An initial set of more than 80,000 documents was made available on the National Archives website, including previously classified memos that illuminate the atmosphere of apprehension during the Cold War, particularly following the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Trump had ordered the release shortly after taking office, which led to the Federal Bureau of Investigation discovering thousands of additional documents related to the assassination in Dallas.

The recent unveiling of CIA activities in India through declassified Kennedy assassination files underscores the agency’s historical global influence and the nature of U.S.-India relations during the Cold War. Such revelations highlight the significance of transparency in understanding historical events and the clandestine operations conducted by intelligence agencies. The ongoing exploration of these files provides insights into the political climate of the era and its implications for international relations.

Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com