Ajit Doval in saffron line of fire over operation botch-up

For the the first time, murmurs against “powerful” national security adviser Ajit Doval are being heard in saffron corridors. Fingers are also being pointed at him by a section of ministers in the Modi Cabinet for intelligence failure and lack of response.

A section in the party and in the government holds him responsible for leading the government to believe that the Pathankot operation was successful much before it was even over. The terrorist attack at the airbase has apparently exposed chinks in the armour of Mr Doval, touted as “India’s own 007”. A section of top saffron functionaries is seething that it was because of “Doval’s inputs” that the government jumped the gun and tweeted to “congratulate” the armed forces on the first day of the attack (January 2) and eventually was left red-faced.

Mr Doval was also hauled up by BJP leaders for calling in the NSG. Experts pointed out that the NSG “might not have been the ideal choice for the exercise as it is an intervention force trained and tasked to handle a crisis, not to protect an airbase or ambush terrorists before they arrived”. It was felt that the operations could have been more efficient if the Army or pararmilitary units familiar with the terrain were used.

Backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the hilt, Mr Doval has emerged as the last word in key issues related to diplomacy and security. The ministries reportedly being undermined by Mr Doval are external affairs and home affairs. Sources said that it’s the NSA who is now virtually taking a final call on diplomatic issues on the global stage. On the domestic front, it’s again Mr Doval who apparently has the final say on intelligence and national security issues.

It was claimed that the NSA had taken direct charge of the Pathankot airbase attack, by completely marginalising the defence and home ministries.

The NSA’s critics in the government and the party claim that on the first day of the attack, January 2, Mr Doval “failed to gauge the seriousness of the assault”. Home minister Rajnath Singh and defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who were under the impression that the armed forces had successfully neutralised the terrorists, left for their scheduled visits to other states. “They acted as per information provided to them,” a top BJP leader said.

It is further claimed that the security agencies and the armed forces wasted “nearly 14 precious hours” after the militants had crossed over to the Indian side from one of the most heavily-guarded international borders in Punjab near Pathankot.

Time was wasted despite the abduction of superintendent of police Salwinder Singh along with his official vehicle and another driver being found dead near the border. Also, the central intelligence, forces and the NSA had no clue while the terrorists kept hiding for over 10 hours behind bushes within the airbase, till they launched the attack early on January 2. As per reports, the terrorists apparently roamed freely. The NSA is also being blamed by the saffron leaders for “gaping holes” at the international borders, which the terrorists seemed to be “using with impunity”, particularly the drug route in Punjab.

Questions are also being raised as to why the NSA failed to “stamp out” smuggling across the border in Punjab and “what the NSA is doing as Punjab is slowly turning into a hotbed of insurgency”.

That Mr Doval remains all powerful as far as national security is concerned “is an accepted fact”. Heads of all intelligence and investigative agencies and central police organisations report directly to him. The ministers concerned apparently await instructions from him before any major move on security-related issues. “But all’s not well. So much power, but hardly any result,” a senior BJP functionary said.