Who Is Alok Joshi, Ex-RAW Chief And Now Head Of National Security Advisory Board?

Alok Joshi, a distinguished Indian intelligence officer and former chief of India's external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), will head the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB). The Centre reconstituted the board which will advise the Prime Minister on matters of national security and foreign policy.

Apart from Alok, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Additional National Security Advisor, the Deputy National Security Advisors, the Ministers of Defence, External Affairs, Home, Finance of the Government of India, and the vice chairman of the NITI Aayog are members of the National Security Council.

Alok has been appointed in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack which killed 26 civilians on April 22.

Who Is Alok Joshi?

Joshi hails from Lucknow. He did his graduation in the Jawaharlal Nehru University, (JNU) and also holds a master's degree in political science. He joined the Indian Police Service (IPS), Haryana cadre in 1976. He rose through his ranks and later in 2005 became the joint director of the Intelligence Bureau with key operations in Nepal and Pakistan.

The Centre appointed him a Special Secretary at RAW in 2010. He took over as Secretary (R) on 30 December 2012. He replaced Sanjeev Tripathi as the RAW Chief in 2012.

PM Gives Complete Freedom To Armed Forces To Retaliate

At a high-level meeting on the Pahalgam terrorist attack on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given "complete operational freedom" to the armed forces to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India's response to the heinous incident that killed 26 civilians on April 22, multiple news agencies reported.

The PM has affirmed that it is the national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism as he expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the armed forces, ANI said in a tweet citing government sources.

"They have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response," a source quoted Modi as saying. The meeting was held by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the chiefs of the three services.

India has already suspended the Indus Water Treat and downgraded the diplomatic ties with Pakistan.