National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, one of India’s most respected security experts, has repeatedly emphasized a fact that often gets overlooked in public discourse: terrorism has harmed Muslims more than any other community. Yet, ironically, they are often the first to be blamed in the name of security.
The core of this debate centers on two highly specific, yet unverified, claims attributed to National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval:
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Espionage: Since 1947, a purported “more than 80%” of the individuals arrested or registered for spying for Pakistan are from the Hindu community.
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Terrorism’s Victims: The Muslim community is the group that suffers the most from the consequences and fallout of terrorism, despite often being unfairly blamed for it.
While these exact statistics regarding the religious identity of spies have not been formally released by the Indian government and are not directly corroborated by public search results, they are used to make a powerful point: the act of disloyalty is a crime of individuals, not an attribute of an entire religion.
Spies Without a Religious Profile
High-profile arrests across the years reinforce the argument that spies for agencies like Pakistan’s ISI are drawn from all walks of life, without regard to religious identity. Recent cases show that even individuals holding sensitive positions within the security establishment are susceptible to compromise:
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DRDO Chief’s Arrest: The 2023 arrest of Pradeep Kurulkar, a senior director at a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) facility, on charges of sharing sensitive data with a Pakistani agent, is a stark example. Kurulkar, who was allegedly associated with the RSS, demonstrates that access to classified information and vulnerability to espionage tactics like “honey traps” transcend religious and organizational affiliations.
These instances challenge the simplistic and often prejudiced narrative that seeks to associate the crime of spying primarily with the Muslim community.
Why Doval’s Words Matter Today
Ajit Doval has spent over five decades dealing with national security — from intelligence operations to counterterrorism. When someone with his experience says:
“Most damage from terrorism is suffered by Muslims themselves.”
“More than 80% of those caught spying for Pakistan were not Muslims.”
…then the nation needs to listen.
His statements aren’t meant to divide, but to challenge harmful stereotypes and promote fact-based national unity.
The Real Cost of Terrorism
The claim that Muslims are the primary victims of terrorism aligns with public statements from NSA Doval who has stressed that “extremism and terrorism are against the very meaning of Islam.” By decoupling terrorism from religious identity, the focus shifts to the reality that:
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In regions affected by terrorism and conflict, the majority of the displaced, dead, and economically ruined are often local Muslim populations.
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The community as a whole faces immense social and political damage, including unwarranted suspicion, prejudice, and attacks on their loyalty simply due to the actions of a few extremists.
Conclusion: Challenging the Loyalty Narrative
The alleged revelation that the majority of those caught spying for Pakistan are Hindu directly counters the aggressive rhetoric often employed by Hindutva extremists and RSS-minded individuals who routinely question the patriotism of India’s Muslim citizens.
By asserting that the actual data points to a different communal breakdown in espionage, the claim fundamentally shifts the burden of suspicion. It highlights that questioning the loyalty of a community based on religion is both prejudiced and factually misleading, diverting attention from the true, diverse sources of threat to India’s national security. The crime of espionage is a bipartisan, non-communal failing, and the victims of terrorism are often the very people unjustly targeted by divisive political narratives.