Kotpad 20th January 2025 National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval turns 79 today, January 20. India’s fifth NSA, Doval has earned the nickname “James Bond of India,” spending years undercover in Pakistan.
Doval was born on January 20, 1945, in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. He began his career as an IPS officer in 1968 and later participated in anti-insurgency operations in Punjab and Mizoram.
In 1972, Doval joined the Intelligence Bureau (IB), where he served for over three decades. On his birthday, here are some of his daring achievements:
Role in Countering Punjab Insurgency << Doval worked
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval turns 79 today, January 20. India’s fifth NSA, Doval has earned the nickname “James Bond of India,” spending years undercover in Pakistan.
Doval was born on January 20, 1945, in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. He began his career as an IPS officer in 1968 and later participated in anti-insurgency operations in Punjab and Mizoram.
In 1972, Doval joined the Intelligence Bureau (IB), where he served for over three decades. On his birthday, here are some of his daring achievements:
Role in Countering Punjab Insurgency
Doval worked with the Indian Army during Operation Blue Star in 1984, helping secure the site and flush out Khalistani militants from the Golden Temple.
In 1988, his anti-terrorism efforts in the region saw him disguise himself as a rickshaw puller to enter the Golden Temple. According to The Economic Times, Doval convinced the Khalistani militants hiding inside the temple that he was a Pakistani operative there to assist them, eventually leading to their surrender.
Surrender of Kuka Parray
In 1990, Doval was in Jammu and Kashmir, where he negotiated with Kuka Parray and his soldiers, persuading them to surrender as militants. This paved the way for elections in the state in 1996.
Undercover in Pakistan
Doval is believed to have spent seven years undercover in Pakistan, gathering intelligence on terrorist groups active in the country. According to Business Standard, during his time in Pakistan, Doval worked at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for six years and spent one year as a secret agent.
Role in IC-814 Negotiations
Doval was involved in negotiating the release of passengers aboard IC-814, which was hijacked and taken to Kandahar. Reports state that between 1971 and 1999, Doval successfully resolved at least 15 Indian Airlines hijackings.
Release of 46 Indian Nurses from Iraq
In 2014, the rise of ISIS created massive chaos in Iraq. Amid this, Doval ensured the safe rescue of 46 Indian nurses trapped in Tikrit, Iraq, and their return to India.
According to news reports, Doval himself went to Iraq on June 25, 2014, to understand the situation on the ground and negotiate with the Iraqi government for the nurses’ release.
Role in Surgical Strikes
Since his appointmen t as NSA in 2014, Doval has overseen India’s surgical strikes in Myanmar and Pakistan. The 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes were conducted during his tenure as National Security Advisor.
with the Indian Army during Operation Blue Star in 1984, helping secure the site and flush out Khalistani militants from the Golden Temple. In 1988, his anti-terrorism efforts in the region saw him disguise himself as a rickshaw puller to enter the Golden Temple. According to The Economic Times, Doval convinced the Khalistani militants hiding inside the temple that he was a Pakistani operative there to assist them, eventually leading to their surrender.
Surrender of Kuka Parray
In 1990, Doval was in Jammu and Kashmir, where he negotiated with Kuka Parray and his soldiers, persuading them to surrender as militants. This paved the way for elections in the state in 1996.
Undercover in Pakistan
Doval is believed to have spent seven years undercover in Pakistan, gathering intelligence on terrorist groups active in the country. According to Business Standard, during his time in Pakistan, Doval worked at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for six years and spent one year as a secret agent.
Role in IC-814 Negotiations
Doval was involved in negotiating the release of passengers aboard IC-814, which was hijacked and taken to Kandahar. Reports state that between 1971 and 1999, Doval successfully resolved at least 15 Indian Airlines hijackings.
Release of 46 Indian Nurses from Iraq
In 2014, the rise of ISIS created massive chaos in Iraq. Amid this, Doval ensured the safe rescue of 46 Indian nurses trapped in Tikrit, Iraq, and their return to India. According to news reports, Doval himself went to Iraq on June 25, 2014, to understand the situation on the ground and negotiate with the Iraqi government for the nurses’ release. Role in Surgical Strikes
Since his appointment as NSA in 2014, Doval has overseen India’s surgical strikes in Myanmar and Pakistan. The 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes were conducted during his tenure as National Security Advisor.