Australia has kicked out an unspecified number of Indian intelligence operatives who were caught trying to steal secrets about sensitive defence projects and airport security.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation has reported that India's foreign intelligence service was responsible for the "nest of spies". It said that a number of Indian officials have been removed from Australia by the government.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post also reported that an officer in India's intelligence service was directly involved in a foiled plan to assassinate a citizen of the United States, who is a vocal critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The report added that the RAW was also involved in the assassination of a Sikh activist last June in Canada.