Doval's Deceptive Demeanour

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NSA Ajit Kumar Doval (L) listens as chairman of Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger delivers his speech during the conference in New Delhi on October 21, 2014. (AFP photo)

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Doval has quietly cut through political and bureaucratic blockages to become an overarching presence in decision making. (PTI photo)

NEW DELHI: He is omnipresent in New Delhi, but you may not recognise him if you run into him in Lutyen's power corridors . Over the past months, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has quietly cut through political and bureaucratic blockages to become an overarching presence in decision making. For Prime Minister Narendra Modi , he is the go-to-man, much to the chagrin of many in the administration who complain that he is overriding them and acting as a one-man army.The former spy's new status effectively dwarfs many even in the Cabinet. He exercises considerable influence, cutting across ministries, in defence purchases, foreign policy and his own domain of intelligence and internal security, say sources in the government and people associated with him. He was the key government representative dealing with the hostage crisis in Iraq and the flare up of tensions with Pakistan. He was Modi's envoy to Beijing before Chinese President Xi Jinping 's visit to India earlier this year.Doval was also the representative to hold talks with the US about cooperation on terrorism and with Israel on strengthening defence ties. The NSA is advising the Prime Minister on the black money issue, too, say sources. "It is not a mere coincidence that the Defence Acquisition Committee of the government cleared purchases worth over $525 million from Israel on October 25, three days after Doval met Joseph Cohen, his Israeli counterpart," said an official from the security establishment, pointing to his influence on decision-making."The NSA has always been an advocate of closer defence ties with Israel." Doval is quick and doesn't wait for clearances from ministries and departments to act. He operates quietly and his actions often go unnoticed in the surface, and this stealthy skill bodes well for his relationship with a Prime Minister who wants his officials to stay away from the spotlight. The quiet demeanour of Doval contrasts with that of the NSA in the previous BJP-led government, the high-profile Brijesh Mishra who had loomed over the government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Mishra was a career diplomat who liked to be in the limelight, while Doval was a police officer and India's top spy."Doval's laid back demeanour is extremely deceptive," said a person who has worked closely with him. When he was Intelligence Bureau chief, the joke was that his brain functions faster than his mouth, he said, referring to Doval's habit of talking extremely fast, sometimes skipping words as he articulated his thoughts. During the recent stand-off with Pakistan, with frequent ceasefire violations reported, Doval was in direct touch with the Border Security Force director general and the home secretary."Doval does not believe in wasting time, trying to go through the right channel. Protocol is not something that he will let come in the way of acting fast," said this person. Doval declined comment for this story. According to sources, Doval has complete control over the country's intelligence apparatus, including the Intelligence Bureau that he once headed and the Research and Analysis Wing. All decisions related to internal security, including many appointments, are being made by Doval, they say.The next chiefs of the intelligence agencies are bound to be selected only with Doval's consent. He has already shown his clout in the appointment of key security officials. Chief of Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) RN Ravi is believed to be Doval's protege, having worked under him at the IB. Given his expertise in Northeast, Doval prevailed over Home Minister Rajnath Singh to name Ravi the chief interlocutor for Naga talks too, instead of former JIC Ajit Lal whom the minister had preferred.