Ryan Shaffer is an independent scholar and has a PhD in history with expertise in extremism and security. His books include The Handbook of Asian Intelligence Cultures, The Handbook of African Intelligence Cultures and African Intelligence Services: Early Postcolonial and Contemporary Challenges. ASM Ali Ashraf is a Professor and Chair of the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He holds a PhD in international security policy from the University of Pittsburgh. He specializes in counterterrorism, intelligence, security and public policy.

• Introduction Chapter 1. Afghanistan: Besieged From Without and Within Chapter 2. Bangladesh: In Search of an Analytical Culture Chapter 3. Bhutan: A Historical Analysis of National Security and Neighborhood Diplomacy Chapter 4. India: Intelligence Changes and Continuities Chapter 5. The Maldives: Intelligence As a Weapon for Power Consolidation, Then and Now Chapter 6. Myanmar: The Development of An Intelligence State Chapter 7. Nepal: Intelligence Response to Insurgent Challenge Chapter 8. Pakistan: In Defense of its Ideological Frontiers Chapter 9. Sri Lankan: Intelligence Transformation During Colonialism, Civil War and Jihad Chapter 10. Intelligence Oversight in South Asia: Explaining Variations in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh Chapter 11. Conclusion: South Asian Intelligence Issues, Factors and Attributes

'This book is an admirable exercise into the study of intelligence operations, a hitherto taboo and less explored area of intellectual inquiry in our parlance. It should immensely aid academics, public safety experts, practitioners and students of criminal justice administration.'Muhammad Nurul Huda, Former Inspector General of Police, Bangladesh"A compelling and insightful look into the intelligence apparatus of South Asia. A must-read for anyone interested in the dynamics of power and intelligence in our region."Abdullah Kamaluddeen, Former Home Minister of the Maldives“A great survey of South Asian intelligence. Comprehensive and insightful.”Owen Bennett-Jones, author of The Bhutto Dynasty: The Struggle for Power in Pakistan'... this book addresses a critical need in the field of intelligence studies. It will also be valuable to those interested in South Asian studies, history, security studies and international relations.'Owen Sirrs, Global Change, Peace & Security, August 2025'. . . a commendable and timely contribution to an area that remains comparatively underexamined. It will undoubtedly serve as a valuable reference for scholars and practitioners engaged in South Asian studies, history, security studies, and international relations.'Punsara Amarasinghe, International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, December 2025'A valuable treatment of intelligence services not frequently discussed in the literature.'Hayden Peake, Studies in Intelligence, December 2025“[a] valuable comparative study of one of the world’s least examined intelligence regions. . . . Through the combination of extensive primary research with a comparative approach, this work offers important insights into the evolution of intelligence institutions and their continuing influence on South Asian politics and security. It is therefore an essential contribution to the fields of intelligence studies and South Asian political history.”Jokin de Carlos Sola, Intelligence and National Security, August 2026

Ryan Shaffer is an independent scholar and has a PhD in history with expertise in extremism and security. His books include The Handbook of Asian Intelligence Cultures, The Handbook of African Intelligence Cultures and African Intelligence Services: Early Postcolonial and Contemporary Challenges. ASM Ali Ashraf is a Professor and Chair of the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He holds a PhD in international security policy from the University of Pittsburgh. He specializes in counterterrorism, intelligence, security and public policy.

• Introduction Chapter 1. Afghanistan: Besieged From Without and Within Chapter 2. Bangladesh: In Search of an Analytical Culture Chapter 3. Bhutan: A Historical Analysis of National Security and Neighborhood Diplomacy Chapter 4. India: Intelligence Changes and Continuities Chapter 5. The Maldives: Intelligence As a Weapon for Power Consolidation, Then and Now Chapter 6. Myanmar: The Development of An Intelligence State Chapter 7. Nepal: Intelligence Response to Insurgent Challenge Chapter 8. Pakistan: In Defense of its Ideological Frontiers Chapter 9. Sri Lankan: Intelligence Transformation During Colonialism, Civil War and Jihad Chapter 10. Intelligence Oversight in South Asia: Explaining Variations in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh Chapter 11. Conclusion: South Asian Intelligence Issues, Factors and Attributes

'This book is an admirable exercise into the study of intelligence operations, a hitherto taboo and less explored area of intellectual inquiry in our parlance. It should immensely aid academics, public safety experts, practitioners and students of criminal justice administration.'Muhammad Nurul Huda, Former Inspector General of Police, Bangladesh"A compelling and insightful look into the intelligence apparatus of South Asia. A must-read for anyone interested in the dynamics of power and intelligence in our region."Abdullah Kamaluddeen, Former Home Minister of the Maldives“A great survey of South Asian intelligence. Comprehensive and insightful.”Owen Bennett-Jones, author of The Bhutto Dynasty: The Struggle for Power in Pakistan'... this book addresses a critical need in the field of intelligence studies. It will also be valuable to those interested in South Asian studies, history, security studies and international relations.'Owen Sirrs, Global Change, Peace & Security, August 2025'. . . a commendable and timely contribution to an area that remains comparatively underexamined. It will undoubtedly serve as a valuable reference for scholars and practitioners engaged in South Asian studies, history, security studies, and international relations.'Punsara Amarasinghe, International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, December 2025'A valuable treatment of intelligence services not frequently discussed in the literature.'Hayden Peake, Studies in Intelligence, December 2025“[a] valuable comparative study of one of the world’s least examined intelligence regions. . . . Through the combination of extensive primary research with a comparative approach, this work offers important insights into the evolution of intelligence institutions and their continuing influence on South Asian politics and security. It is therefore an essential contribution to the fields of intelligence studies and South Asian political history.”Jokin de Carlos Sola, Intelligence and National Security, August 2026

Ryan Shaffer is an independent scholar and has a PhD in history with expertise in extremism and security. His books include The Handbook of Asian Intelligence Cultures, The Handbook of African Intelligence Cultures and African Intelligence Services: Early Postcolonial and Contemporary Challenges. ASM Ali Ashraf is a Professor and Chair of the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He holds a PhD in international security policy from the University of Pittsburgh. He specializes in counterterrorism, intelligence, security and public policy.

• Introduction Chapter 1. Afghanistan: Besieged From Without and Within Chapter 2. Bangladesh: In Search of an Analytical Culture Chapter 3. Bhutan: A Historical Analysis of National Security and Neighborhood Diplomacy Chapter 4. India: Intelligence Changes and Continuities Chapter 5. The Maldives: Intelligence As a Weapon for Power Consolidation, Then and Now Chapter 6. Myanmar: The Development of An Intelligence State Chapter 7. Nepal: Intelligence Response to Insurgent Challenge Chapter 8. Pakistan: In Defense of its Ideological Frontiers Chapter 9. Sri Lankan: Intelligence Transformation During Colonialism, Civil War and Jihad Chapter 10. Intelligence Oversight in South Asia: Explaining Variations in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh Chapter 11. Conclusion: South Asian Intelligence Issues, Factors and Attributes

'This book is an admirable exercise into the study of intelligence operations, a hitherto taboo and less explored area of intellectual inquiry in our parlance. It should immensely aid academics, public safety experts, practitioners and students of criminal justice administration.'Muhammad Nurul Huda, Former Inspector General of Police, Bangladesh"A compelling and insightful look into the intelligence apparatus of South Asia. A must-read for anyone interested in the dynamics of power and intelligence in our region."Abdullah Kamaluddeen, Former Home Minister of the Maldives“A great survey of South Asian intelligence. Comprehensive and insightful.”Owen Bennett-Jones, author of The Bhutto Dynasty: The Struggle for Power in Pakistan'... this book addresses a critical need in the field of intelligence studies. It will also be valuable to those interested in South Asian studies, history, security studies and international relations.'Owen Sirrs, Global Change, Peace & Security, August 2025'. . . a commendable and timely contribution to an area that remains comparatively underexamined. It will undoubtedly serve as a valuable reference for scholars and practitioners engaged in South Asian studies, history, security studies, and international relations.'Punsara Amarasinghe, International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, December 2025'A valuable treatment of intelligence services not frequently discussed in the literature.'Hayden Peake, Studies in Intelligence, December 2025“[a] valuable comparative study of one of the world’s least examined intelligence regions. . . . Through the combination of extensive primary research with a comparative approach, this work offers important insights into the evolution of intelligence institutions and their continuing influence on South Asian politics and security. It is therefore an essential contribution to the fields of intelligence studies and South Asian political history.”Jokin de Carlos Sola, Intelligence and National Security, August 2026