New national security advisor Ajit Kumar Doval is likely to pursue pro-active policy on the

Kashmir issue. He may not be averse to holding talks with the separatists but would also not
succumb to their rhetoric and pressure tactics.
"He is very tough and analytical officer. He is likely to pursue pro-active and zero tolerance
Kashmir policy. It doesn't mean he will not hold talks with the separatists but rather apply the
rule of carrot-and-stick," said a senior police official, who had earlier served in intelligence wing
of the Jammu and Kashmir police.
Doval, a former Intelligence Bureau director has also handled Kashmir desk in the bureau and is
well versed with the state.
The security and intelligence officials in the state say his approach would be markedly different
from the former RAW chief AK Dulat, who also served as Atal Bihari Vajpayee's adviser on
Kashmir.
Dulat continued to have clout in successive UPA government on the Kashmir issue.
"He will not do soft-pedaling on Kashmir and will not rely much on track-II policy. Doval's
approach would be straight in not making national security subservient to any factor," said a
senior intelligence official.
Doval would bring changes in IB and it could mean end of Dulat's coterie, who continued to play
a major role on Kashmir policy relying much on track-II diplomacy- holding talks with
separatists and Pakistan-which didn't yield much results.
"The previous government was too defensive, unsure and uncertain on terrorism and the Kashmir
policy. It allowed much space to separatist, but this won't be the same from now on," said a
senior police official.
Many officials, to whom HT spoke, very unanimous said Doval would frame the policy on
ground realities and day-to-day development and not on set frame of rules.
"He knows how much space the Indian government has yielded to separatists in Kashmir and
how radicalisation has taken place there. He will frame and purse his policies with in this
matrix," said a senior leader, who has been in constant touch with Doval for quite long.
The 1968-batch IPS officer was Indias 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.
ov s is the second key ppointment mde fte Pime iniste Nend odi ssumed
chge The fist ws tht of Nipend is s odis Pincip Secety
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.
ovs nme hs been doing the ounds 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,
ws Indis 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.
Keywords: Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser