Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 13 appointed Ajit Doval as the National Security Advisor (NSA) for the third consecutive time, with the rank of cabinet minister for another five years. Doval’s reappointment underscores his pivotal role in shaping India’s national security policies over the past decade.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Doval’s appointment “His appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” a notification issued by the Centre stated. “During the term of his office, he will be assigned the rank of Cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence,” it added.
As his first major assignment in Modi 3.0, Doval will accompany the Prime Minister to Italy on Thursday for the G7 Summit. Additionally, he participated in a review meeting chaired by PM Modi on the recent fire tragedy in Kuwait, which claimed the lives of 42 Indians and injured many others.
Doval, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, retired in 2005 as the head of India’s domestic spy agency, the Intelligence Bureau. He was Modi’s first choice to advise on security matters when he assumed office in May 2014. Since then, Doval has been instrumental in shaping India’s national security policy, handling key issues such as the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the resurgence of Khalistani activities from certain Western countries, and strengthening New Delhi’s relationships with Arab countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He has also played a crucial role in managing relations with Pakistan and China.
During his previous two terms, Doval introduced “an element of unpredictability” in India’s dealings with Pakistan. This included overseeing cross-border strikes in 2016 following the terror attack on the Uri Brigade’s headquarters and the air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot, Pakistan, after the February 2019 Pulwama suicide attack.
He played an important role during the cross-broder military operation against National Socialist Council of Nagaland separatists who have been operating out of Nagaland. He was among the chief negotiators during the Kandhar aircraft hijacking in 1999.
Doval was also part of the operation black thunder in 1988 that was launched against the Khalistanis.
A 1968-batch Kerala cadre officer, Doval was the first police officer to receive the second-highest peacetime gallantry award for his role in Operation Black Thunder-II, which was launched to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in 1988.
In addition to Doval’s reappointment, the Prime Minister’s principal secretary, PK Mishra, has also received an extension. “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Dr. P.K. Mishra, IAS (Retired) as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister with effect from June 10, 2024. His appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” stated the notification. “During the term of his office, he will be assigned the rank of Cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence.”
Mishra has been a key aide to Modi since his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and has served in the Prime Minister’s Office since Modi assumed office in 2014.
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