The 1968-batch IPS officer was India’s main negotiator with the hijackers of Indian Airlines plane IC-814 taken to Kandahar in 1999.

Former Intelligence Bureau chief Ajit Doval was on Friday appointed as National Security Adviser.

Mr. Dovalְ’s is the second key appointment made after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed charge. The first was that of Nripendra Misra as Mr. Modi’s Principal Secretary.

According to the official order, the appointment of Mr. Doval, who retired in January 2005 as Intelligence Bureau chief, takes effect from Friday.

His appointment will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or till further orders, whichever is earlier, the order said.

>Mr. Doval’s name has been doing the rounds ever since Mr. Modi became Prime Minister-designate.

Mr. Doval had met Mr. Modi at Gujarat Bhavan and gave him a brief on security challenges facing the country.

Having the distinction of being the >first police officer who received Kirti Chakra, a military honour, Mr. Doval will be providing his deep insight about the threats faced by the country from within and from outside.

A 1968-batch IPS officer, known as one of the best operational brains within intelligence circles, was India’s >main negotiator with the hijackers of Indian Airlines plane IC-814 taken to Kandahar in 1999.

After a few years in uniform, Mr. Doval had worked as an intelligence officer for over 33 years during which he had served in the Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.