The U.S. State Department has launched a counterintelligence investigation against Robin Raphel (67), a former Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia who served in India and Pakistan, and also as an advisor on Israel, West Asia and as an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency.
Her 30-year service as a career diplomat, followed by five years as a top advisor to the State Department on Pakistan was brought to an abrupt end last month when her security clearances were revoked, her home in Northwest Washington DC was searched by officials, and she was placed on administrative leave after her contract with the federal agency was allowed to lapse.
Ms. Raphel, a former Ambassador to Tunisia, was a controversial figure in India, where during her time as political counsellor since 1991 she described the state of Jammu and Kashmir as a “disputed territory,” and called for the dispute there to be resolved as per the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Although the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice declined to comment on the investigation State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said, “We are aware of this law enforcement matter,” adding, “Ms. Raphel’s appointment expired; she is no longer a State Department employee.”
Calls and messages to mobile and landline phone numbers of Ms. Raphel were not answered and numerous individuals who said that they knew her or her family personally declined to comment for this story.
Quoting unnamed officials The Washington Post, which broke the story, however confirmed that the investigation was a counterintelligence matter involving allegations of “spying on behalf of foreign governments,” although she does not face any charges at this time and it remains unclear whether the allegations against her pertain to Pakistan.
The Post also said that a spokesman for Ms. Raphel said she was “cooperating with investigators but has not been told the ‘scope or nature or that she is the target’ of any probe.”
Sources speaking to The Hindu said that given her close engagement with Islamabad, which since 2009 entailed overseeing development aid and civilian assistance to Pakistan and advising the U.S. Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan, it would have been “stupid” for her to have been spying for that country as she would have known that it was highly likely that she would be watched.
Daniel Markey Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations however said to The Hindu that the timing of the investigation was “likely to create more than the usual diplomatic stir, given that Pakistan's army chief is coming to Washington DC in the next couple of weeks.”
Others drew attention to the fact that news of the probe against Ms. Raphel comes days after a bluntly-worded Pentagon report criticised Pakistan for using militant groups as proxies in a war against a “superior” Indian army, in part to “hedge against the loss of influence in Afghanistan.”
 | >Robin Raphel, the ‘obstacle’ in India-U.S. tiesThe U.S. was seen as pro-Pakistan at the time,” describes diplomat Satinder Lambah, who was India’s High Commissioner in Islamabad then, “And Ms. Raphel was a real obstacle in bettering ties between the US and India. They improved dramatically, later, but it was in spite of her.” >Read More... |
>US views J&K as disputed territory: Raphel"We view the entire formal princely State of Jammu and Kashmir as disputed territory. In our view, India and Pakistan need to get together and have serious negotiations on how to resolve this dispute and other problems between them." >Read More... | |
| >MEA feels vindicated"Ms. Raphel was a real obstacle in bettering ties between the U.S. and India,” said diplomat Satinder Lambah, who was India’s High Commissioner in Islamabad then. “We have been vindicated by this probe,” said an official who chose not to be named. >Read More... |
