Ajit Doval to stay as NSA, gets cabinet rank with 5-year term
The National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval has been re-appointed to the top post in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office for a second five-year term, with an elevation, the government said on Monday. He was earlier placed in the Minister of State rank.
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Ajit Doval, IPS (Retired) as National Security Adviser with effect from 31.05.2019. His appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” a government order said.
“During the term of his office, he will be assigned the rank of Cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence,” the brief order said.
Doval is also credited with solving the Doklam standoff between India and China in 2017 when the two countries were engaged in a bitter turf war for several months.
National security formed a big part of Modi’s election campaign, and according to sources, will be one of the top focus areas for the government. He started an NSA-level conversation with Lt Gen Nasir Khan Janjua in Pakistan, until Janjua was eased out by the Pakistan army.
“Doval as NSA is well-equipped to deal with national security as he has shown,” said P.S.Raghavan, who heads the National Security Advisory Board that deals with internal and external security, foreign affairs, defence, science and technology and economic affairs
Doval has been a major influence on the government’s security policy—including dealing with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, engaging with Pakistan and China as well as deepening India’s relationship with Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.