Ajit Doval recalls China custody episode: ‘I knew this was the end of my career’

NEW DELHI: National security advisor Ajit Doval on Saturday recalled one of the most difficult moments of his early career, when a group of operatives sent across the border went missing and were later found to be in Chinese custody.Speaking as the chief guest at the two-day convocation ceremony of IIT Roorkee, NSA Doval said he was deeply worried after receiving no information about the group’s whereabouts.He said: “We got no reports of any avalanche or anything. It was a matter of deep worry and concern. But I got a telephone call from the headquarters, and my boss told me, “Have you sent some people across?” I said, “I do not know. They must be coming. They should have come in five or six days, but now it is about ten or eleven days.” He said, “They are in Chinese custody now.” They were caught by the Chinese and interrogated. Anyway, the Chinese returned them, probably after some talks or negotiations, or a deal must have been struck. So, they returned totally shattered, in shambles. And an inquiry was started. I knew that this was the end of my career. I was still in my twenties, and I had to start a new career. I saw the incident as something very unprofessional.”Doval said an inquiry was later conducted and he was not held responsible for the incident.“Anyway, the inquiry was over. I wasn’t found at fault. Probably, I had done everything right. The sketches and the maps that were given to us by the headquarters had some defects and mistakes in them. That is how it happened,” the NSA added.

He also spoke about the opportunities available to today’s younger generation, particularly with rapid advances in technology.“You may not be conscious of the fact that in the last 1000 years, you are the luckiest generation, which is going to have so many opportunities. Generations before you were struggling under slavery. They did not have those opportunities which opened up for you. And not only that, things have changed here, but globally things have changed for the better for you… You are coming at an age when technology will be the most important driving factor in any country’s or society’s growth and progress,” Ajit Doval said.The two-day convocation began at IIT Roorkee on Saturday, with degrees set to be awarded to 2,701 students. NSA Doval attended the event as the chief guest.