Leaders in intelligence disclosed in 2021 that they had busted a “nest of spies” that were dispatched to Australia to pilfer defense secrets and keep tabs on their nation’s foreign residents.
Reports that a “nest” of Indian spies had been discovered in the nation and expelled have been denied by a number of senior Australian ministers, raising concerns that could harm a developing partnership.
Regarding claims that Indian spies attempted to get defense secrets and keep tabs on expatriate populations in 2020, Australia’s prime minister as well as the ministers of foreign policy, defense, and treasury all sidestepped concerns.
Following the news that was leaked by public broadcaster ABC, which cited anonymous “national security and government figures,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared he would not comment on intelligence-related issues.
Leaders in intelligence disclosed in 2021 that they had busted a “nest of spies” that were dispatched to Australia to pilfer defense secrets and keep tabs on their nation’s foreign residents.
Australian officials have long refused to reveal the identity of the foreign spies, despite the fact that they were expelled from the nation at the time.
The riddle appears to have been solved, according to local media. ABC claims that they were intelligence agents sent from India.
Canberra finds the disclosures politically difficult in light of Australia and India’s strengthening security partnership.
They are partners in the Quad security agreement with the US and Japan.
During a visit to Australia last year, Albanese courted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by calling him the “boss” at a sizable gathering of Indian-Australians.
Like many other Western cities, Canberra has opted to prioritize building commercial and defense relations over raising concerns about the sectarian policies and democratic backsliding of Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government.
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau openly connected Indian intelligence to the death of a Canadian citizen, a Sikh separatist, on Canadian soil, ties between India and Canada collapsed.
New Delhi referred to the claims as “absurd”.
“Foreign meddling”
Penny Wong, the foreign minister of Australia, stated that it was critical to “assert the importance of our democratic principles,” but she would not comment on “intelligence matters.”
Wong stated that Australia would “maintain the resilience of our democracy, including in the face of any suggestion of foreign interference” .
She went on, “And we have laws to deal with that.”
Jim Chalmers, the treasurer, emphasized that Australia had “good relationship with India” but added that it was “not something I’m prepared to go into”.
Leading spymaster Mike Burgess has charged that the spies are attempting to indoctrinate law enforcement, lawmakers, and embassy personnel.
He stated in 2021, without identifying their country of origin, “They attempted to obtain classified information about Australia’s trade relationships.”
“They asked a public servant to provide information on security protocols at a major airport.”
A request for response was not answered by the Indian High Commission.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
