Ajit Doval Appointed as National Security Advisor, PK Mishra as Principal Secretary to PM Modi

New Delhi: Ajit Doval has been re-appointed as national security advisor on Thursday. The appointments committee of the cabinet also re-appointed PK Mishra as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

With PM Narendra Modi reappointing Dr P K Mishra as Principal Secretary to PM and Ajit Doval as National Security Advisor, they have now become the longest-serving principal advisors to the Prime Minister.

Ajit Doval was born in the year 1945 in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Often called the “James Bond of India”, the patriot has spent 40 years of his life in oblivion for the sake of the country’s defence. Doval is 1968-batch Indian Police Service (IPS- retired) officer. He joined the service in the Kerala cadre as the Kottayam ASP. He had an impressive career in the Intelligence Bureau, where he served as the director of the IB from 2004-05.

Here’s a look at such instances when the NSA proved he is the James Bond of India:

Mizoram Peace

He cleverly managed to get 6 out of 7 commanders of the Mizo National Front to his side. MNF was notorious for spreading insurgency in Mizoram in 1980 and this move broke their back. Thereafter, peace was established in Mizoram.

Played Vital Role In Surrender Of Kuka Parray And Troops

In 1990, Ajit Doval went to Kashmir and managed to persuade infamous militant Mohammad Yusuf Parray, better known as Kuka Parray, and his troops for becoming counter-insurgents. This new development was instrumental in clearing the way for Jammu and Kashmir elections in 1996.

7 years undercover in Pakistan

Ajit Doval took his career as a field officer seriously and went to great lengths to do whatever it took to undertake his task. According to various media reports, Doval spent 7 years in Pakistan while working for the Indian government. He mastered Urdu and is an expert on Pakistani history, culture and politics. This helped him remain undercover in Pakistan for over 7 years, undertaking various tasks at considerable risk to his life.

Negotiating with Hijackers of IC 814 in Kandahar

In 1999, Indian Airlines IC 814 was hijacked to Kandahar. Although India’s capitulation to the hijacker’s demands was a political decision and subsequently criticised, it was Ajit Doval’s deft handling of the situation and negotiation with the hijackers that prevented further loss of life and damage to the aircraft.