James Bond Of Asia: A Look Back At NSA Ajit Doval's Successful Missions

As Doval turns 78 today, here's a look at his three substantial operations, which earned him the title of country's James Bond.

1999 Hijack Of Indian Airlines IC 814

In 1999, an Indian Airlines Airbus A300 en route from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Delhi, India, was hijacked by five masked terrorists and was forced to land in Afghanistan's Kandahar. During that time, the Indian government sent a team of negotiators, one of them was Doval, who was then serving as Home Ministry official. He played a crucial role in the crisis and persuaded the hijackers to release the passengers in exchange for three terrorists who were imprisoned in India.However, Doval described the incident as a "diplomatic failure" of the Indian government in their inability to make the US and the UAE use their influence to help secure a quick release of the passengers. Doval also claimed that India could have resolved the crisis if the hijackers did not have Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan intelligence agency's support.

1988 Operation Black Thunder

In the late 1980s, two operations were carried out in India to mutilate pro-Khalistan Sikh militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar of Punjab, majorly influenced by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. During that time, Doval disguised as a rickshaw puller and was noticed by Khalistani militants. Within ten days, he convinced the militants that he was an ISI operative sent by his Pakistani authority to help the Khalistani cause.Two days before the operation, Doval managed to enter the Golden temple and gather crucial information for the Indian Security Forces. He informed the forces about the positions and strength of the militants inside the shrine. With the help of Ajit Doval, the troops had no difficulty in flushing the Khalistanis from the temple and making it a successful operation.

7 Years In Pakistan For RAW

Doval joined the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), an Indian intelligence agency, in 1972 and led a life that we usually watch in spy-based films. He took his career as a field officer seriously and worked as an undercover agent in Pakistan for seven years.He disguised as a Pakistani Muslim, mastered the Urdu language, and now holds expertise in Pakistani history, culture, and politics. It helped him shield his real identity in the neighbouring nation, providing crucial information in the midst of the enemy and undertaking several missions at considerable risk to his life