After the Pahalgam massacre of 26 Indian tourists by a handful of Pakistan-based terrorists on April 23, 2025, the uppermost question in everyone’s mind was – what will be India’s response to it. Everyone wanted unequivocal and brutal crushing of Pakistan – the root-cause of terrorism in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi carried burden of 1.5 billion people’s hopes on his shoulders. And he turned to his most trusted aide in this situation – Ajit Doval, the super-spy and presently country’s National Security Advisor.
Doval didn’t disappoint the people of India. He planned the attack on terror factories on Pakistan’s soil. In true Doval style, he lulled Pakistan into complacency by organising mock drills indicating Indian government was unprepared for a retribution. Then in one swift precision missile attack in the wee hours of May 7 as most people in India were fast asleep, nine terror factories were razed to the ground. Pakistan was caught off guard. And so was the entire world.
This is why Doval is regarded as the mastermind of India’s strategic affairs – both internal and external. He has been in forefront of Operation Sindoor, not only strategizing and planning Indian attack on Pak terror factories but also moulding world opinion in India’s favour. He has been speaking to all world leaders relentlessly explaining India’s position and its changed strategy.
He told them that now, India, like USA and Israel, won’t indulge in polemics and diplomacy whenever anyone waged a war against India or its people. It would chase the perpetrators of the crime to the end of the universe. It has right to do so and it will not hesitate in exercising its right. Just like after earlier terror strikes in Uri (followed by India’s surgical strikes on terror camps in PoK) and Pulwama (followed by Indian air strikes in Pak’s Balakot). It is due to Doval and his team that the world listens to India and often bows before it. Lets find out who is Doval and who are members of this team…
AJIT DOVAL, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
On Christmas Day in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had an unscheduled diversion to Lahore to attend his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif’s granddaughter’s wedding, had unmistaken stamp of Ajit Doval’s handiwork. Soon after, Doval was seen commanding NSG troops during an attack on army installations in Pathankot. Couple of years later, he was attributed with swift flushing out militants in a cross-border strike in Myanmar. Another cross-border strike in Balakot following militant attack in Kashmir’s Uri, is said to be masterminded by Doval. He has been involved in negotiations in all 15 hijacking of aircrafts in India during past three decades including infamous IC-814 to Kandahar. Even abrogation of Article 370 taking away special status from Kashmir was helmed by the 1967-batch IPS officer of Kerala cadre, euphemistically titled James Bond of India.
He was seen monitoring peace process on the ground in Kashmir after curfew was partially lifted in 2019. He is said to be behind India’s response to China’s border indiscretions and military and diplomatic skirmishes with Pakistan during past 10 years. He is the one who guided India’s ‘muscular diplomacy’ with neighbours like Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
He might be most powerful police officer in India but he is also one of the most low-profile bureaucrats, giving rare public appearances and fewer speeches. He enjoys Prime Minister’s complete trust. As National Security Advisor, his job is to formulate military and diplomatic strategies, but his actions during past 11 years suggest you can take the uniform from a police officer, but you can’t keep him away from the action in the field.
Before he retired as Director of Intelligence Bureau in January 2005, he was part of all the high-profile operations both inside the border and across it. He is said to have spent seven years in Pakistan under disguise. He was also seen in disguise of a rickshaw puller inside Golden Temple Amritsar, during Operation Black Thunder launched in 1986 to flush out armed militants hiding there. He got rid of militancy in Mizoram by breaking MNF chief Laldenga’s hedgemony. Doval was underground for several years in the Arakan in Burma and inside Chinese territory. From there he went to Sikkim and played an important role during the merger of the state with India.
His full profile published earlier can be read by clicking the following link…
NSA Ajit Doval’s Legend Has Been Growing With Time – https://indianmasterminds.com
RAJINDER KHANNA, ADDITIONAL NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
Born in 1956, Rajinder Khanna is a 1978 batch IPS officer of Odisha cadre. He has deep knowledge of Pakistan and terrorism. That is why he too has been one of the key strategist of Operation Sindoor.
In January 2018, he was appointed as Deputy NSA, overseeing Technology and Intelligence. In July 2024, Khanna was elevated to the newly established position of Additional NSA, reflecting the Modi government’s emphasis on continuity in the national security apparatus.
Rajinder Khanna brings a wealth of experience from his long career within India’s intelligence apparatus. His deep understanding of regional security dynamics and his expertise in intelligence analysis make him a valuable asset to the National Security Council. Khanna’s insights into intelligence operations and his ability to assess threats are considered crucial for formulating effective national security strategies.
His educational background includes a BA in Economics (Hons.) from Hansraj College, Delhi University, and an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, in 1978. During foundation course training in LBSNAA during 1977-78, he was awarded Director’s silver medal for scoring highest marks in Economics. From 1979 to 1985 he served various districts in Odisha as SP including Puri and Ganjam. In Puri, he had eradicated dacoity, earning Chief Minister’s commendations.
He went on deputation later to external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and is considered as the founder and driving force of the counter-terrorism unit in the organisation. He oversaw numerous sensitive operations and intelligence gathering efforts in R&AW. He also served as the R&AW chief from December 2014 to December 2016.
V. RAVICHANDRAN, DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
Born on 3 August 1964, V Ravichandran, is one of the three Deputy NSAs, the country has. A 1990-batch IPS officer from Tamil Nadu, he was appointed Deputy NSA (Technology & Intelligence) in July 2024. Before that he has served as Special Director of IB and was also as the DGP of Tamil Nadu. He has extensive experience in intelligence and policing.
Ravichandran’s earlier roles include Additional Director General of Police/Additional Director of IB Headquarters in New Delhi from 6 November 2015, and he was appointed Special Director, IB, on an in-situ basis, temporarily upgrading his post.
Ravichandran’s proficiency in English, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, along with his operational experience, makes him a critical asset in national security, with a tenure initially up to his superannuation on 31 August 2024, followed by re-employment on contract basis for two years.
Ravichandran’s expertise in handling complex security situations and his understanding of domestic threats are vital for his role as Deputy National Security Advisor. Ravichandran’s background in intelligence operations allows him to provide valuable insights into potential threats and contribute to the development of effective counterstrategies.
PANKAJ KUMAR SINGH, DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
Born 19 December 1962, Pankaj Kumar Singh is an IPS officer of 1988-batch. A former Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), Singh was appointed Deputy NSA (Internal Affairs) in January 2023. His focus includes border security, counterterrorism, and domestic law enforcement coordination.
Singh joined the IPS in 1988, allocated to the Rajasthan cadre. His career spans multiple high-profile roles in law enforcement and security. Early in his career, Singh served in the Rajasthan Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)where he cracked an infamous sex scandal in Jammu and Kashmir and resolved several corruption cases.
Singh served as Inspector General (IG) in Chhattisgarh and IG (Operations) at CRPF headquarters in Delhi. His tenure in Chhattisgarh involved managing internal security challenges in a region affected by Naxalism. Before becoming DG, Singh was chief of the BSF’s Eastern Frontier, where he significantly reduced cattle smuggling along the West Bengal and Assam borders by 87% between 2015 and 2021.
As BSF DG from August 31, 2021, to December 31, 2022, he oversaw the development of low-cost anti-drone technology to counter intrusions along the Indo-Pakistan border and negotiated the contentious expansion of BSF jurisdiction to 50 km from the border, despite opposition from some states. Singh retired as BSF DG on December 31, 2022, and was appointed Dy NSA shortly thereafter.
He is the son of Prakash Singh, a former BSF DG who served from 1993 to 1994, making them the first father-son duo to lead the BSF. Singh holds a BSc (Hons.) in Physics from Hindu College, Delhi University, an M.Phil. from Chennai University, an LL.B from Delhi University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad.
PAVAN KAPOOR, DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
Pavan Kapoor, born 24 December 1966, was appointed Deputy NSA on 15 July 2024. A 1990-batch IFS officer, bringing diplomatic expertise to national security. His educational qualifications include an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad and an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kapoor’s diplomatic career is marked by extensive international experience. He served as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs from 4 February 2024 to 14 July 2024, Ambassador to Russia from 21 November 2021 to 3 February 2024.
Earlier, he was Ambassador to the UAE from October 2019 to November 2021, and also served as High Commissioner to Mozambique and Swaziland from 2014-2016, and Ambassador to Israel from 2016-2019. He worked in the Prime Minister’s Office and as an international civil servant with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
His appointment as Deputy NSA, succeeding Vikram Misri, leverages his diplomatic expertise for national security, particularly in international relations. Kapoor’s expertise helps in shaping India’s foreign policy in a way that aligns with its national security objectives, fostering international cooperation and managing external threats through diplomatic channels.
