The Cold War’s hidden chessboard just gained new pieces. Recently declassified documents linked to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy have unearthed startling details about the CIA’s covert operations in India, revealing secret bases in New Delhi and Kolkata. These revelations, part of a broader release of 80,000 pages of records, reignite debates about America’s clandestine activities while offering fresh insights into India’s role of JFK in Cold War espionage.
Nothing surprising.
JFK files reveal covert CIA bases in India – Abhijeet Kumar https://t.co/9PQD82k7j1 via @Bharata_Bharati
— रंगा – ரங்கா அய்யங்கார் (@ranganaathan) March 21, 2025The “Black Sites” Revelation: CIA’s Global Network in Focus
The declassified files confirm that the CIA operated clandestine facilities—termed “black sites”—across Asia, including in India’s capital and Kolkata. These bases, managed by the agency’s New York division, were part of a sprawling network spanning Rawalpindi (Pakistan), Tehran (Iran), Colombo (Sri Lanka), and Tokyo (Japan). Historically, such sites facilitated surveillance, interrogations, and covert operations, often bypassing local legal frameworks.
Newly released JFK files reveal some interesting insights into his admin’s approach to India:
1/ Remarks by JFK before the National Security Council, January 22, 1963: “the Pakistanis are critical, but we must recognize thé importance of the Indians. If they joined the Chinese… pic.twitter.com/LmMFnTDi7V
— The Seeker (@TheSeeker268) March 20, 2025Key Details:
- Timing: The Trump administration’s March 2025 declassification fulfilled a transparency pledge, releasing 2,200 documents from a six-million-page archive.
- Controversy: While Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard hailed the move as a step toward “maximum transparency,” experts like Harvard historian Fredrik Logevall caution that the files may not颠覆 the official narrative.
India’s Cold War Alliance with the CIA: A Double-Edged Sword
The files highlight India’s complex relationship with the CIA during the Cold War. While publicly advocating non-alignment, India secretly collaborated with the agency to counter Chinese influence:
- Charbatia Airbase: In 1962, Prime Minister Nehru permitted CIA U-2 spy planes to refuel in Odisha for surveillance over Chinese territories.
- Tibetan Resistance: Post-China’s 1950 annexation of Tibet, India, with CIA support, aided Tibetan fighters and facilitated the Dalai Lama’s 1959 escape.
Critics’ Perspective:
- Critics argue such collaborations compromised India’s sovereignty, exposing it to geopolitical risks.
- Proponents claim these alliances were pragmatic, given the threat from China post-1962 border clashes.
Balancing Transparency and Speculation
The declassification has reignited conspiracy theories about Kennedy’s assassination, including alleged CIA-mob collusion and a “second shooter” theory6. However, initial reviews by Reuters and scholars like Logevall suggest the files primarily add historical context rather than conclusions.
Divergent Reactions:
- Transparency Advocates: Praise the release as a victory for public accountability.
- Skeptics: Question whether redactions still obscure critical details, echoing decades of distrust in official narratives.
FAQ
1. What are CIA “black sites”?
Black sites are covert facilities used for intelligence operations, including detainee interrogations, often without judicial oversight.
2. Why did India host CIA bases?
Cold War geopolitics drove India to collaborate with the CIA for intelligence-sharing and countering Chinese influence.
3. How does this impact US-India relations today?
While historical, these revelations could fuel debates about sovereignty and transparency in current intelligence partnerships.
4. Were detainees held in Indian black sites?
The files note legal scrutiny over detainments at global sites but lack specifics about India.
5. What prompted the 2025 declassification?
Former President Trump’s Executive Order 14176 mandated releasing JFK files to uphold “public interest”.
6. Do the files prove CIA involvement in JFK’s assassination?
No conclusive evidence emerged, though they detail Oswald’s pre-assassination activities.
7. How credible are the Russian media claims about India’s bases?
RT’s report aligns with declassified U.S. documents, but India’s government has not officially commented.
