Desher Samay: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central Government has reappointed Ajit Doval as the National Security Advisor (NSA) for the third consecutive term. A government notification issued on Thursday announced Ajit Doval’s reappointment as National Security Advisor. The 77-year-old Doval’s new term has been effective since June 10.
Ajit embarked on his professional journey as an IPS officer. However, he is also known as the ‘James Bond of India.’
How did Ajit Doval Transform from an IPS Officer to one of India’s foremost Intelligence Operatives ?
Ajit was born on January 20, 1945, in the village of Ghirri Banelsyun in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. He completed his early education at the Ajmer Military School, Rajasthan. He completed his Master’s degree in Economics in 1967. Ajit joined IPS, after clearing the UPSC exam in 1968. According to sources, at the dawn of his career, Ajit was sent to Pakistan as an undercover agent.
In the guise of a Muslim person Ajit resided in Lahore, Pakistan, where he worked at the Indian embassy. During that time, he dodged the lidless eyes of the Pakistani government, he provided crucial information to India. After successfully completing his mission in Pakistan, Doval returned to India. The government entrusted him with the responsibility of counter-terrorism in North-East India and Punjab.
In 1988, Ajit led ‘Operation Black Thunder’ against Khalistani terrorists. He played a crucial role in several anti-terrorism campaigns with strategic prowess. Ajit also played a significant role in restoring peace in Mizoram. He successfully attempted to vanquish the separatist organization ‘National Socialist Council of Nagaland’.
In 1999, Ajit played a significant role in negotiating the release of passengers from Air India Flight IC- 814, which was hijacked in Kandahar. Additionally, he was instrumental in India’s diplomatic outreach to release Indian nurses who were held captive in Iraq and the repatriation of Indian fishermen detained in Pakistan.
Mr. Doval served as the head of the Intelligence Bureau’s Operations branch for over a decade. In 2004, he was appointed as the Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and retired in 2009. After becoming the Prime Minister in 2014, Modi brought former intelligence officer Doval as the National Security Advisor. Subsequently, in various national and international domains, under his leadership, several steps have been taken for anti-terrorism campaign. In 2016, under his leadership, it was claimed that a surgical strike was carried out in Pakistan administered Kashmir following the Uri terrorist attack, which boosted the popularity of the Modi government.Subsequently, in 2017, the Doklam standoff between India and China occurred. During that time, primarily through Doval’s intervention, the situation was peacefully resolved, leading to improved relations between the two countries. According to a government source, before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Doval was the mastermind behind planning an airstrike on militant groups in Pakistan’s Balakot following the CRPF convoy attack in Pulwama. After serving with expertise for over five years as the National Security Advisor, the retired IPS officer was honored with the ‘award of reappointment’ after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This not only extended his tenure by another five years but also elevated his position by the 2nd term of the Modi government.
In the second term, Doval played a crucial role in restoring law and order in Kashmir following the revocation of Article 370. Additionally, amidst tensions after the June 2020 clash in Eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley between Indian soldiers and Chinese troops, he significantly contributed to de-escalation talks with Beijing. Although at that time, there was speculation about Doval’s ‘distance’ from Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, Modi dispelled doubts on Thursday amid the same uncertainty if he would be reappointed Prime Minister in the third term. Notably Ajit Doval had received India’s gallantry award ‘Kirti Chakra’.
