Doval to stay NSA for record 3rd time, Mishra PS to PM
NEW DELHI: ‘Spymaster’ Ajit Doval and seasoned bureaucrat P K Mishra were on Thursday re-appointed as National Security Adviser and principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, respectively, for a five-year term.
With the latest appointment, Doval has got a record third term at the top post dealing with crucial matters related to the country’s security.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the two key appointments with effect from June 10, 2024, the Personnel Ministry said.
Their appointment “will be co-terminus with the term of the prime minister or until further orders whichever is earlier”, it said in identical orders.
Both Doval and Mishra will be assigned the rank of Cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence and terms and conditions of their appointment will be notified separately, the ministry said.Doval, who belongs to the 1968 batch of Indian Police Service of Kerala cadre, retired as Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief in 2005. He was appointed as the
NSA for the first time on May 30, 2014, and re-appointed for another five-year term on May 31, 2019.
During his first tenure, Doval is believed to have played a pivotal role in the surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Uri terror attack.
He has also been widely hailed for his contribution to the national security domain, including his role during the Balakot (Pakistan) air strike after the Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir) terror attack, officials said.
Doval, 79, was one of the main negotiators from India with the hijackers of Indian Airlines plane IC814 taken to Kandahar in 1999.
He worked with the IB for more than 33 years in different roles and in areas including the Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim and Punjab. He served in the United Kingdom as well.
Both are considered as top close aides of Modi. the NSA, Doval is responsible for all national security-related issues while Mishra will be dealing with administrative issues, including the appointments done by Modi-led ACC.