Recently, two web series have made a lot of headlines in India. Both series are based on ‘Operation Kahuta’, a secret mission of India’s intelligence agency Raw (Research and Analysis Wing) in the 1970s. The aim of this mission was to highlight Pakistan’s secret nuclear weapon program. But what was the real story of this mission? Why it is considered so important. What went wrong in this?
What was the operation?
Operation Kahuta was a secret mission launched in 1977 by India’s intelligence agency RAW, aimed at getting information about Pakistan’s secret nuclear weapons program and stopping it. This nuclear program of Pakistan was going on in the Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL), which was located in a small town Kahuta. This city was kept so secret that it was not easily found on maps.
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In 1974, India conducted the first nuclear test (Operation Smiling Buddha) in Pokhran, which inspired Pakistan to make nuclear weapons. The then Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had said that we will make atomic bombs, even if we have to eat grass. With this determination, Dr. Abdul Qadir Khan (father of Pakistan’s nuclear program) launched a secret uranium enrichment secret plant in Kahuta.
India knew that Pakistan was making nuclear weapons, but there was no sure evidence. The mission of Raw was to confirm this and stop it if possible. In this mission, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad also helped Raw, as Israel feared that Pakistan’s atomic bomb, which was being called Islamic bomb, could pose a threat to them in the Middle East.
How did the operation go?
RAW had formed a strong network of its espionage in Pakistan in the 1970s. Its head Rameshwar Nath Kav (RN Kav), known as ‘Kavboy’. Raw’s detectives heard rumors of nuclear activities in Kahuta, but it was difficult to gather firm evidence. It was almost impossible to infiltrate the Kahuta plant, as it was kept in a strict security circle by the Pakistani Army and ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence).
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Raw adopted a unique way. He discovered that the nuclear scientists of Kahuta go to a local barber shop to get a haircut. Raw spies collected severed hair of scientists from this barber shop. These hair was brought to India and tested in the laboratory. Radiation marks were found in them. It was a firm proof that plutonium or uranium is being promoted in Kahuta. Pakistan is making atomic bombs.
This information helped Raw confirm that there is a nuclear plant in Kahuta. Raw then shared this information with Israel, which was planning to an air attack on Kahuta, as he did in 1981 on the Osiraq nuclear reactor of Iraq.
What was the plan?
In 1981, India and Israel jointly planned an airstrike on the Kahuta plant. The scheme was known as Osirak Continency, as it was inspired by the Iraq attack of Israel. The plan was that Israeli’s F-15 and F-16 fighter jets will reach the Jamnagar airbase of India via the Arabian Sea.
From there, they will fill fuel in Udhampur and then attack Kahuta. India had to provide only airspace and airbase, while the attack was to be done by Israeli pilots and weapons.
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However, the scheme faced many challenges. America got a clue of it. He warned Pakistan. Pakistan immediately increased its aerial security around Kahuta, which ended the surprise element of the attack.
Where did the lapse?
Operation Kahuta’s biggest lapse occurred due to the then Prime Minister of India Morarji Desai. After the formation of the Janata Party government in 1977, Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister. They were against Raw and intelligence activities. He believed that it was part of Indira Gandhi’s policies. He reduced the budget of RAW by 30%. Its operation was limited.
The biggest shock occurred when Desai leaked information about Raw’s network and Kahuta’s nuclear program in a telephone conversation with the then military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq. He told Jia that India is aware of his secret nuclear program.
After this information, Pakistan immediately took action. ISI found Raw’s detectives. Many agents were brutally killed. This collapsed Raw’s detective network in Pakistan. India’s intelligence information went back a decade.
Apart from this, Desai also refused to provide fuel to Israel to the attack on Kahauta. This canceled the attack plan. Later, Indira Gandhi also did not approve the scheme, as she did not want to take a risk of a complete war.
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What happened after this?
Pakistan’s nuclear program: After Operation Kahuta failed, Pakistan intensified its nuclear program. In 1983, the cold test of the first nuclear device in Kahuta was successful. In 1998, Pakistan conducted six nuclear tests.
Loss of Raw: Many detectives of Raw lost their lives. India’s intelligence network became weak.
Political dispute: The Congress recently claimed that the Janata Party government of Morarji Desai helped Pakistan become nuclear power by failing this mission.
Honor of Pakistan: Morarji Desai was awarded his highest civilian honor Nishan-e-Pakistan, which many people see by this mistake.
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