Many had expected Ajit Doval to be reappointed as the National Security Advisor in the Modi 2.0 regime. This time around, he has also been elevated to the rank of cabinet minister. The NSA position was innovated by the Vajpayee government, then continued by the Manmohan and Modi governments. But Doval is the first NSA to have cabinet rank.
Just like the appointment of former foreign secretary S Jaishankar as foreign minister, what is being signalled is the prime minister’s trust and his priorities. For example, a significant amount of credit for the success of the post-Uri surgical strikes in PoK, as well as the Balakot strikes post-Pulwama may go to Doval. In resolving the Doklam standoff, both Doval and Jaishankar reportedly played key roles.
Also read: NSA Ajit Doval gets 5 more years, and cabinet rank as well
Given that their appointment has sparked discussion of a centralized security architecture built around the Modi-Jaishankar-Doval trinity, it is worth underlining that on the defence reforms side there has been much talk but less progress on the creation of a chief of defence staff, to set aside turf wars and operationalize a combined tri-service theatre — as is the case with modern armed forces elsewhere in the world. This, in fact, was a primary recommendation of the Kargil review committee, yet to see the light of day. It is to be hoped that the freshly re-elected government will deliver this reform instead of letting certain sections of the armed forces and bureaucracy continue to run it aground. This too is a security imperative.