New Delhi, November 8, 2025: In a stunning revelation that sheds light on a long-rumored episode from the Cold War era, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) counter-proliferation officer Richard Barlow has confirmed that India and Israel once discussed a joint covert plan to bomb Pakistan’s Kahuta uranium enrichment facility in the early 1980s. The plan, however, was never executed after then–Prime Minister Indira Gandhi refused to give final approval.
In an exclusive interview with Asian News International (ANI), Barlow—who worked on intelligence related to Pakistan’s nuclear activities—disclosed that the proposal was aimed at crippling Islamabad’s atomic weapons program before it became operational.
“It’s a shame that Indira [Gandhi] didn’t approve it; it would have solved a lot of problems,” Barlow said, referring to the decision that ultimately left Pakistan’s nuclear project untouched.
The Joint Operation Plan
According to Barlow and several declassified intelligence accounts, Israel had proposed conducting a pre-emptive airstrike on the Kahuta nuclear plant, located near Rawalpindi. The mission was to be carried out with Indian logistical support, including possible refueling and radar suppression assistance.
Israel, at the time, viewed Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions—often dubbed the pursuit of an “Islamic bomb”—as a grave threat to regional security and to global nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Intelligence assessments indicated growing concerns that Pakistan could later transfer nuclear technology to other nations, including Iran or Libya.
Indira Gandhi’s Decision
Although the plan reportedly advanced to a detailed operational stage, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ultimately withdrew her authorization. Analysts and former officials have suggested her hesitation stemmed from the high risk of triggering a full-scale Indo-Pakistani war and destabilizing an already fragile South Asian region.
The decision also reflected India’s broader geopolitical caution during the period, as Gandhi’s government sought to balance strategic assertiveness with regional restraint in the face of a volatile nuclear race.
US Opposition and Strategic Calculations
Barlow noted that the United States, under the administration of President Ronald Reagan, would have strongly opposed any such strike, particularly with Israeli involvement. During the early 1980s, Washington relied heavily on Pakistan as a frontline ally for its covert support to the Afghan Mujahideen resisting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Barlow stated that Pakistan skillfully used this dependency as leverage to shield its nuclear program from international scrutiny, ensuring the U.S. took no decisive action against Islamabad’s uranium enrichment activities at Kahuta.
Legacy of a Lost Opportunity
Barlow’s account underscores the high-stakes geopolitical maneuvering that defined South Asia during the Cold War and highlights how narrowly the region escaped a potential pre-emptive strike with far-reaching consequences.
The former CIA officer’s comments reignite debate among historians and strategic analysts about whether Indira Gandhi’s decision to abort the operation averted a regional catastrophe—or missed a critical opportunity to halt Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program before it became a strategic reality.
Source: Asian International (ANI)
Interview Reference: “Shame that Indira didn’t approve it: Ex-CIA officer Barlow on Israel-India covert plan to strike Pakistan’s Kahuta nuclear site.”
