With the increasing hostility in the world’s atmosphere, it becomes essential for every nation to have their own Intelligence agencies. The growing competition between countries to acquire power and money has made the world unsafe. The idea of possessing an intelligence agency is not new. Many of these organizations from the past have become an inspiration to the newly emerging ones. They are representatives of the defense strategy and strength of a country. It is with the help of these organizations only that the policymakers are able to shape laws and policies in the favor of the country and its citizens. They collect and analyze secret information and help to fight terrorism and other criminal activities.
Here we have the list of some of the best intelligence agencies present in the world today-
10. ASIS, Australia-
ASIS stands for Australia’s Secret Intelligence Service which was recognized in year 1952 by the executive power of the Commonwealth. The headquarters of this agency are located in Canberra. It’s aim is to ‘Protect and promote Australia’s vital interests through the provision of unique foreign intelligence services as directed by Government’. It also gathers secret information, examine activities of other opponent nations and take necessary actions for the safety and security of the country and its people. The agency has wide hold on intelligence all over the world. The organisation was transformed into a statuary body which is now supervised by a Director General.
9. ISI Pakistan-
ISI i.e. Inter-Services Intelligence is the intelligence agency of Pakistan found in 1948 in order to protect the nation from external and internal threats. It is ranked as the best and most strongest intelligence agency in the world by American Crime News. The agency gained its position after providing vital information during Afghan and Kargil wars. It is headquartered in Shahrah-e-Soharwardi in Islamabad. It also advises the military to safeguard the interests of the citizens of the country. The present Director is Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha. The organisation collects secret information and helps in strengthening the military and security of Pakistan.
8. MSS, China-
MSS, China stands for Ministry of State Security which is the intelligence agency of the People’s Republic of China. Its headquarters are located in Beijing. The organization was created in 1983 and became one of the largest and strongest intelligence agencies in the world. The agency is responsible for foreign intelligence, counterintelligence operations and political security. The agency has the power to detain or arrest people for crimes relating to security of the country. The MMS is a product of the merger between the CID and the counter intelligence elements of the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China.
7. RAW, India-
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is India’s external intelligence agency created in 1968 after the India-China war. The headquarters are situated in New Delhi. The main purpose of this organisation is to gather information regarding the terrorist activities in the country. The Director of the agency is supposed to report to Prime Minister. The agency as a whole remains unanswerable to the Indian Parliament as compared to the other western agencies. The major focus is towards the country’s immediate neighbour Pakistan which has engaged in various terrorist attacks in the past. RAW also provides security to country’s nuclear weapons, collects valuable information about foreign management, and provides details to the policymakers to safeguard the interest of the citizens.
6. DGSE, France-
The secret agency of France was formed in 1982. DGSE stands for Direction Générale De La Sécurité Extérieure. DGSE is operated by the Defence Ministry of French Government. This organisation is a product of the merging of the diverse agencies of the French intelligence from the 2nd World War. Collecting information regarding protection of internal security and foreign intelligence is the main aim of this agency. The agency is said to have prevented the country from 15 terrorist attacks. It is also responsible for electronic intelligence, counterespionage outside the borders of the national territory and strategic information.
5. BND, Germany-
The BND i.e. Bundesnachrichtendienst was formed in 1956 and is ranked amongst one of the most well organised agencies in the world. The headquarters are located in Pullach near Munich. The organisation makes use of the latest technologies which help to spy well over its enemies. The main objective of this agency is to inform the country about any terrorist attacks, safeguard the citizens from threats and collect intelligence data. BND is a highly active organisation and is also responsible for detecting criminal activities.
4. FSB, Russia-
The FSB stands for Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation which is the most powerful intelligence agency in Russia was formed in 1995. The headquarters are located in the Downtown Moscow, Lubyanka Square. FSB also engages in protecting the country from terrorist activities, state crimes and counter terrorism. It is a federal executive body and has the authority to implement policies for the nation’s security. Army general Aleksandr Bortnikov is the current Director of the FSB since 2008. The agency is mostly dealing with the domestic affairs and the FAPSI which is a part of FSB has the responsibility to conduct electronic surveillance abroad.
3. MI6, UK-
MI6 earlier known as Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) is the intelligence agency of UK which was formed in 1909 before the 1st World War. The main reason behind the creation of this agency was to look after the activities of the Imperial German government. The SIS building located in Vauxhall Cross, London is the headquarter for MI6. The agency influences the decisions of the government by providing secret information. It is accountable to the government and operates world-wide. It uses modern technology to protect the interests of the nation. The agency runs various covert operations all over the world.
2. CIA, US-
The CIA or Central Intelligence Agency is an independent secret agency of United States formed in 1947 by President Harry S. Truman. The headquarters are located in Langley, Virginia. The organisation’s main purpose is to collect secret information about foreign organisations and people. It is also responsible for maintaining the peace of the country and to perform covert actions. The motto of this agency is- “The work of a nation. The center of Intelligence.” The organisation is divided into 4 departments- the Directorate of Support, the Directorate of Intelligence, the Directorate of Science and Technology and the National Clandestine Service. It is due to CIA’s efficiency only that America is able to influence many international affairs.
1. MOSSAD, Israel-
MOSSAD is the major national intelligence agency of Israel which was created in the year 1949. The motto of this agency is-“Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety” The main aim of this agency is to maintain peace, defend the country and to protect Israel from any kind of terrorist or criminal activities. It is one of the most active agencies in the world. It collects information involving counter terrorism and also conducts various covert operations. The undercover agents of this agency are present in many of the countries who provide important information. The organisation is bound to report all the activities directly to the head of the state i.e. the Prime Minister.