Covert CIA installations in India? JFK files disclose concealed locations in Delhi and Kolkata
Declassified documents concerning JFK reveal that the CIA's New York branch operated clandestine facilities in various sites, such as New Delhi and Kolkata, along with Rawalpindi in Pakistan and Colombo in Sri Lanka, among others.
Recent revelations from documents about the 1963 murder of President John F. Kennedy show that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had hidden bases in New Delhi and Kolkata. These records, made public by the US National Archives and Records Administration, provide insight into the agency's secretive activities in India and across numerous other global locations.
As per the released files, the CIA's New York sector managed undisclosed bases in numerous places, including both New Delhi and Kolkata in India, Rawalpindi in Pakistan, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Tehran in Iran, Seoul in South Korea, and Tokyo in Japan. Some of these facilities have faced legal challenges, with claims that individuals were held without formal accusations or court proceedings.
The US National Archives published around 2,200 formerly classified documents on their website, a step taken following an order from former President Donald Trump. This release is part of an extensive trove totaling over six million pages of documents, images, and other resources related to the Kennedy assassination, most of which had been previously disclosed.
The covert installations of the CIA, commonly known as “black sites,” have historically been utilized for intelligence-related functions, such as surveillance, espionage, and, in certain cases, the detention and interrogation of alleged terrorists. The agency has a longstanding history of managing such bases globally, including in Ukraine, where they have reportedly participated in intelligence operations focusing on Russia.
India’s historical connections with the CIA
India has a legacy of interactions with the CIA, especially during the Cold War. In 2013, a declassified report revealed that India allowed the US to utilize the Charbatia airbase in Odisha for refueling CIA-operated U-2 reconnaissance aircraft during missions over Chinese territories in 1962.
Post-independence, India sought support from the United States to enhance its intelligence capabilities. In 1949, T G Sanjeevi, the head of India’s Intelligence Bureau, worked alongside the CIA, mainly to keep a watchful eye on Communist China. After China's takeover of Tibet in 1950, India, with assistance from the CIA, supported Tibetan resistance groups. Many Indian Police Officers working for IB and RAW were double Agents and were paid by CIA as well. Some of the Indian Agents ran away from country and are living/lived a palatial life.
