Paul McGarr
@paulmcgarr.bsky.social
Intelligence History | Published first book on Cold War South Asia, published another on Spying in India, writing a third on Indira Gandhi & Margaret Thatcher
Visited Khan Market in Delhi today to call in at the institution that is Bahri Sons books. Great to see Spying in South Asia on the shelves. Better still, Bahri Sons had me sign copies that were sold straight on to customers! @warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk @universitypress.cambridge.org
November 4, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Visited Khan Market in Delhi today to call in at the institution that is Bahri Sons books. Great to see Spying in South Asia on the shelves. Better still, Bahri Sons had me sign copies that were sold straight on to customers! @warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk @universitypress.cambridge.org
Extremely grateful to Pratyaksh Sharma for his very generius and insightful review of Spying in South Asia
www.cambridge.org/9781108843676
www.cambridge.org/9781108843676
October 24, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Extremely grateful to Pratyaksh Sharma for his very generius and insightful review of Spying in South Asia
www.cambridge.org/9781108843676
www.cambridge.org/9781108843676
Reposted by Paul McGarr
"Spying in South Asia is a thorough and thought-provoking work" writes Pratyaksh Sharma of @paulmcgarr.bsky.social's recent book, published by @universitypress.cambridge.org. Follow this link to read our latest book review ➡️ doi.org/10.1080/1833...
October 24, 2025 at 8:28 AM
"Spying in South Asia is a thorough and thought-provoking work" writes Pratyaksh Sharma of @paulmcgarr.bsky.social's recent book, published by @universitypress.cambridge.org. Follow this link to read our latest book review ➡️ doi.org/10.1080/1833...
Reposted by Paul McGarr
📚 Call for submissions: 2025 Polly Corrigan and Kjetil Hatlebrekke Book Prizes
The King’s Centre for the Study of Intelligence is pleased to open nominations for two distinguished awards celebrating excellence in intelligence and security studies.
The King’s Centre for the Study of Intelligence is pleased to open nominations for two distinguished awards celebrating excellence in intelligence and security studies.
October 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
📚 Call for submissions: 2025 Polly Corrigan and Kjetil Hatlebrekke Book Prizes
The King’s Centre for the Study of Intelligence is pleased to open nominations for two distinguished awards celebrating excellence in intelligence and security studies.
The King’s Centre for the Study of Intelligence is pleased to open nominations for two distinguished awards celebrating excellence in intelligence and security studies.
Reposted by Paul McGarr
📖 Support the next generation of intelligence scholars
KCSI offers expert insights, analysis, and research on how intelligence impacts urgent problems that we confront in the global security environment. Our work would not be possible without the support of grants and donations.
(1/5)
KCSI offers expert insights, analysis, and research on how intelligence impacts urgent problems that we confront in the global security environment. Our work would not be possible without the support of grants and donations.
(1/5)
October 17, 2025 at 8:34 AM
📖 Support the next generation of intelligence scholars
KCSI offers expert insights, analysis, and research on how intelligence impacts urgent problems that we confront in the global security environment. Our work would not be possible without the support of grants and donations.
(1/5)
KCSI offers expert insights, analysis, and research on how intelligence impacts urgent problems that we confront in the global security environment. Our work would not be possible without the support of grants and donations.
(1/5)
Reposted by Paul McGarr
It’s early in the academic year, but I may have peaked. Yesterday, I led on the delivery of a new @warstudieskcl.bsky.social course, Strategic Intelligence for Senior Executives, alongside Emergent Risk International. Engaging F2F with global business leaders was informative & huge fun.
@kcsi.uk
@kcsi.uk
September 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
It’s early in the academic year, but I may have peaked. Yesterday, I led on the delivery of a new @warstudieskcl.bsky.social course, Strategic Intelligence for Senior Executives, alongside Emergent Risk International. Engaging F2F with global business leaders was informative & huge fun.
@kcsi.uk
@kcsi.uk
Learned a lot yesterday evening talking about challenges facing intelligence practitioners (state & private) to the @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social Business School Executive MBA class. Great to engage with highly impressive and vastly experienced business leaders. @kcsi.uk @warstudieskcl.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Learned a lot yesterday evening talking about challenges facing intelligence practitioners (state & private) to the @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social Business School Executive MBA class. Great to engage with highly impressive and vastly experienced business leaders. @kcsi.uk @warstudieskcl.bsky.social
It’s early in the academic year, but I may have peaked. Yesterday, I led on the delivery of a new @warstudieskcl.bsky.social course, Strategic Intelligence for Senior Executives, alongside Emergent Risk International. Engaging F2F with global business leaders was informative & huge fun.
@kcsi.uk
@kcsi.uk
September 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
It’s early in the academic year, but I may have peaked. Yesterday, I led on the delivery of a new @warstudieskcl.bsky.social course, Strategic Intelligence for Senior Executives, alongside Emergent Risk International. Engaging F2F with global business leaders was informative & huge fun.
@kcsi.uk
@kcsi.uk
Received a nice surprise in the post today, the amazing new @georgetownup.bsky.social volume on Covert Action edited by the dream team of @magslong.bsky.social, Genevive Lester, @markstout.bsky.social, @dvanp.bsky.social & @rorycormac.bsky.social. Stellar contributors, though Chp 9 seems suspect😉
September 8, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Received a nice surprise in the post today, the amazing new @georgetownup.bsky.social volume on Covert Action edited by the dream team of @magslong.bsky.social, Genevive Lester, @markstout.bsky.social, @dvanp.bsky.social & @rorycormac.bsky.social. Stellar contributors, though Chp 9 seems suspect😉
Privileged today to be invited to address the current senior leadership cadre at India’s National Defence College on intel in South Asia & as a determinant in foreign policymaking. Thks Maj Gen Samath Nagar & Air Marshal Hardeep Bains (Commandant) for asking me to engage with the latest NDC cohort.
September 8, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Privileged today to be invited to address the current senior leadership cadre at India’s National Defence College on intel in South Asia & as a determinant in foreign policymaking. Thks Maj Gen Samath Nagar & Air Marshal Hardeep Bains (Commandant) for asking me to engage with the latest NDC cohort.
Thks to praveenswami.bsky.social for noting my work on intelligence ties between India & the US in his excellent article in The Print. Agree that India-US intel ties will weather the latest squall btwn Delhi and Washington. theprint-in.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/theprint...
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social
India-US relationship has survived darker times. Intelligence ties bind us together
India-US intelligence ties flourished even in the shadow of the Cold War, as New Delhi resolutely proclaimed its commitment to non-alignment.
theprint-in.cdn.ampproject.org
September 7, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Thks to praveenswami.bsky.social for noting my work on intelligence ties between India & the US in his excellent article in The Print. Agree that India-US intel ties will weather the latest squall btwn Delhi and Washington. theprint-in.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/theprint...
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social
Reposted by Paul McGarr
Honored to see my review of @paulmcgarr.bsky.social's Spying in South Asia on this week's #ScholarSunday thread.
@americanstudier.bsky.social every week I love seeing you highlight scholars and sharing word about their work. Thank you and please keep it up!
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
@americanstudier.bsky.social every week I love seeing you highlight scholars and sharing word about their work. Thank you and please keep it up!
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
August 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Honored to see my review of @paulmcgarr.bsky.social's Spying in South Asia on this week's #ScholarSunday thread.
@americanstudier.bsky.social every week I love seeing you highlight scholars and sharing word about their work. Thank you and please keep it up!
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
@americanstudier.bsky.social every week I love seeing you highlight scholars and sharing word about their work. Thank you and please keep it up!
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
Reposted by Paul McGarr
ICYMI: I wrote a review of @paulmcgarr.bsky.social's excellent @universitypress.cambridge.org book Spying in South Asia for @contingent-mag.bsky.social
Here's a 🧵 about how the review came together and what was left on the cutting room floor.
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
Here's a 🧵 about how the review came together and what was left on the cutting room floor.
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
The Search for Intelligence
the intelligence individuals are less James Bond and George Smiley than bureaucrats
contingentmagazine.org
August 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
ICYMI: I wrote a review of @paulmcgarr.bsky.social's excellent @universitypress.cambridge.org book Spying in South Asia for @contingent-mag.bsky.social
Here's a 🧵 about how the review came together and what was left on the cutting room floor.
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
Here's a 🧵 about how the review came together and what was left on the cutting room floor.
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
Thks to TheWire.in for noting some of my recent work on UK & US covert Cold War interventions in Kerala m.thewire.in/article/hist... With elections due in Kerala next year its timely to revisit the issue of electoral interference
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk @universitypress.cambridge.org
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk @universitypress.cambridge.org
The Wire: The Wire News India, Latest News,News from India, Politics, External Affairs, Science, Economics, Gender and Culture
The Wire: The Wire News India, Latest News,News from India, Politics, External Affairs, Science, Economics, Gender and Culture
TheWire.in
August 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Thks to TheWire.in for noting some of my recent work on UK & US covert Cold War interventions in Kerala m.thewire.in/article/hist... With elections due in Kerala next year its timely to revisit the issue of electoral interference
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk @universitypress.cambridge.org
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk @universitypress.cambridge.org
Reposted by Paul McGarr
During the Cold War, the US, UK, and USSR all had covert operations in India.
Were their efforts successful? No.
Were their efforts secret? Definitely no.
Read more about these covert operations, only in @contingent-mag.bsky.social
#india #security
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
Were their efforts successful? No.
Were their efforts secret? Definitely no.
Read more about these covert operations, only in @contingent-mag.bsky.social
#india #security
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
The Search for Intelligence
the intelligence individuals are less James Bond and George Smiley than bureaucrats
contingentmagazine.org
August 16, 2025 at 3:13 PM
During the Cold War, the US, UK, and USSR all had covert operations in India.
Were their efforts successful? No.
Were their efforts secret? Definitely no.
Read more about these covert operations, only in @contingent-mag.bsky.social
#india #security
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
Were their efforts successful? No.
Were their efforts secret? Definitely no.
Read more about these covert operations, only in @contingent-mag.bsky.social
#india #security
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
Reposted by Paul McGarr
Dr @paulmcgarr.bsky.social draws on newly declassified British documents to reveal how, during the #ColdWar, India’s Congress government, the CIA & British intelligence took covert actions to undermine the Communist Party of India in #Kerala in the late 1950s.
Read more:
bit.ly/3JjPwe6
Read more:
bit.ly/3JjPwe6
August 15, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Dr @paulmcgarr.bsky.social draws on newly declassified British documents to reveal how, during the #ColdWar, India’s Congress government, the CIA & British intelligence took covert actions to undermine the Communist Party of India in #Kerala in the late 1950s.
Read more:
bit.ly/3JjPwe6
Read more:
bit.ly/3JjPwe6
Reposted by Paul McGarr
The latest @contingent-mag.bsky.social essay is my review of @paulmcgarr.bsky.social's excellent book, Spying in South Asia @universitypress.cambridge.org
The book is a MUST READ especially for @shafrhistorians.bsky.social
#india #coldwar #skystorians
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
The book is a MUST READ especially for @shafrhistorians.bsky.social
#india #coldwar #skystorians
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
The Search for Intelligence
the intelligence individuals are less James Bond and George Smiley than bureaucrats
contingentmagazine.org
August 13, 2025 at 11:32 PM
The latest @contingent-mag.bsky.social essay is my review of @paulmcgarr.bsky.social's excellent book, Spying in South Asia @universitypress.cambridge.org
The book is a MUST READ especially for @shafrhistorians.bsky.social
#india #coldwar #skystorians
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
The book is a MUST READ especially for @shafrhistorians.bsky.social
#india #coldwar #skystorians
contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t...
Intelligence history being put to good use in The Print India to contextualise recent "developments" in US relations with India and Pakistan. Appreciate the mention 🙏
theprint.in/opinion/secu...
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk @universitypress.cambridge.org
theprint.in/opinion/secu...
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk @universitypress.cambridge.org
Method in Trump's Pakistan romance: US' Gulf security
Like Turkey and Egypt, Pakistan is one of a handful of powers with the human resources and infrastructure to help secure the Persian Gulf as Trump’s America draws down its military presence.
theprint.in
August 13, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Intelligence history being put to good use in The Print India to contextualise recent "developments" in US relations with India and Pakistan. Appreciate the mention 🙏
theprint.in/opinion/secu...
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk @universitypress.cambridge.org
theprint.in/opinion/secu...
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk @universitypress.cambridge.org
Thks to @indianexpress.com for carrying a piece I wrote on newly declassified British intelligence files that reveal covert collaboration btw India & the UK in Cold War Kerala. The article is available here 👇
indianexpress.com/article/opin...
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk
indianexpress.com/article/opin...
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk
When Indian government, British intelligence and the CIA joined hands to spy on communists in Kerala
Newly declassified British government documents cast important light on the complex system of cooperation and competition that characterised Western intelligence interactions with India during the Col...
indianexpress.com
August 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Thks to @indianexpress.com for carrying a piece I wrote on newly declassified British intelligence files that reveal covert collaboration btw India & the UK in Cold War Kerala. The article is available here 👇
indianexpress.com/article/opin...
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk
indianexpress.com/article/opin...
@warstudieskcl.bsky.social @kcsi.uk
A review of Spying in South is out by @marcus1984.bsky.social in @contingent-mag.bsky.social contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t.... Mark is a superb scholar & his critique is on point. If you don't read Contingent at present, you should. It's a non-profit history mag doing amazing work. Take a look
The Search for Intelligence
the intelligence individuals are less James Bond and George Smiley than bureaucrats
contingentmagazine.org
August 13, 2025 at 12:50 PM
A review of Spying in South is out by @marcus1984.bsky.social in @contingent-mag.bsky.social contingentmagazine.org/2025/08/12/t.... Mark is a superb scholar & his critique is on point. If you don't read Contingent at present, you should. It's a non-profit history mag doing amazing work. Take a look
Hugely grateful to @arjm5184.bsky.social for his very generous & insightful review of Spying in South Asia in @diplomatichistory.bsky.social. Andrew's meticulous assessment neatly captures the book's essence 🙏https://academic.oup.com/dh/advance-article/doi/10.1093/dh/dhaf052/8226034?searchresult=1
Sovereignty and Surveillance in Cold War India
Paul McGarr opens his work with a reference from John le Carré’s Smiley’s People, recounting the brief meeting between George Smiley and his Soviet counter
academic.oup.com
August 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Hugely grateful to @arjm5184.bsky.social for his very generous & insightful review of Spying in South Asia in @diplomatichistory.bsky.social. Andrew's meticulous assessment neatly captures the book's essence 🙏https://academic.oup.com/dh/advance-article/doi/10.1093/dh/dhaf052/8226034?searchresult=1
Spoke to @telegraphnews.bsky.social on the hiring & firing of US officials by the Trump admin. The piece covers the decision not to appoint Tom Sylvester as the next CIA station chief in London. In short, politicising intelligence is a VERY bad idea. Take a look👇 www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08...
How Britain found itself at the heart of a CIA civil war
An ex-Navy Seal and an agent for 30 years, Tom Sylvester was the ideal candidate for London station chief. Did someone get to him?
www.telegraph.co.uk
August 2, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Spoke to @telegraphnews.bsky.social on the hiring & firing of US officials by the Trump admin. The piece covers the decision not to appoint Tom Sylvester as the next CIA station chief in London. In short, politicising intelligence is a VERY bad idea. Take a look👇 www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08...
Grateful to Zach Constantino at sspga.ubc.ca for a very generous review of Spying in South Asia cambridge.org/9781108843676 in @pacificaffairs.bsky.social. Humbled that an intelligence practitioner of Zach's experience offered encouraging words on the book.
See pacificaffairs.ubc.ca/book-reviews...
See pacificaffairs.ubc.ca/book-reviews...
SPYING IN SOUTH ASIA: Britain, the United States, and India’s Secret Cold War | By Paul McGarr
book review of SPYING IN SOUTH ASIA: Britain, the United States, and India's Secret Cold War By Paul McGarr
pacificaffairs.ubc.ca
July 23, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Grateful to Zach Constantino at sspga.ubc.ca for a very generous review of Spying in South Asia cambridge.org/9781108843676 in @pacificaffairs.bsky.social. Humbled that an intelligence practitioner of Zach's experience offered encouraging words on the book.
See pacificaffairs.ubc.ca/book-reviews...
See pacificaffairs.ubc.ca/book-reviews...
Great new article on Cold War Japan from King's War Studies PhD candidiate, Satoshi Yoda. Well worth a read.
kcsi.uk/kcsi-insight...
kcsi.uk/kcsi-insight...
From Langley to Tokyo: The JFK Assassination Files and Communist…
kcsi.uk
July 21, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Great new article on Cold War Japan from King's War Studies PhD candidiate, Satoshi Yoda. Well worth a read.
kcsi.uk/kcsi-insight...
kcsi.uk/kcsi-insight...
Humbled by a very kind review of Spying in South Asia cambridge.org/9781108843676 in India's World. Delighted the review appeared in a publication that, under the expert leadership of Happymon Jacob &
Raja C Mohan, is becoming the go to outlet for expert commentary on India's international affairs.
Raja C Mohan, is becoming the go to outlet for expert commentary on India's international affairs.
July 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Humbled by a very kind review of Spying in South Asia cambridge.org/9781108843676 in India's World. Delighted the review appeared in a publication that, under the expert leadership of Happymon Jacob &
Raja C Mohan, is becoming the go to outlet for expert commentary on India's international affairs.
Raja C Mohan, is becoming the go to outlet for expert commentary on India's international affairs.