What is the Difference Between Indian RAW and Pakistan ISI?

The Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are the primary intelligence agencies of their respective countries. While both agencies aim to gather intelligence and protect their nations' interests, there are some differences between them:

1. Control and Structure: RAW is an independent agency, separate from the Indian Army, and functions directly under the Prime Minister. On the other hand, ISI operates under the Pakistan Army, with the Director-General of ISI being a serving Lieutenant General of the Pakistan Army.
2. Outcomes: The outcomes RAW seeks to achieve are not explicitly clear due to the absence of a national security doctrine or strategy in India. In contrast, the ISI's primary objectives are to neutralize the military and economic asymmetry with India and control Pakistan's western neighbor, Afghanistan, through proxies.
3. Career Intelligence Officers: RAW has career intelligence officers, while ISI consists mainly of army personnel.
4. Perception: Former R&AW chief AS Dulat stated that R&AW is "pretty good, better than the ISI". However, this perception may be subjective and should be taken with caution.

In summary, both RAW and ISI are intelligence agencies with different organizational structures and objectives. While RAW is an independent agency under the Prime Minister, ISI operates under the Pakistan Army. The outcomes each agency seeks to achieve and their respective perceptions may vary, but both agencies work to protect their countries' interests.

Comparative Table: Indian RAW vs Pakistan ISI

Here is a table comparing the differences between Indian RAW and Pakistan ISI:

Both RAW and ISI are intelligence agencies that aim to gather information and support their respective countries' objectives. However, RAW is an independent agency functioning directly under the Prime Minister, while ISI operates under the Pakistan Army.