The undercover agent who used hair samples to expose a nuclear programme

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before becoming India's longest-serving National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval spent decades in the shadows. From infiltrating the Golden Temple as a rickshaw puller to collecting hair from a barber shop to track uranium, his career is a masterclass in high-stakes intelligence and covert operations.

Ajit Doval’s career in the Intelligence Bureau, spanning over 33 years, was defined by deep-cover assignments that blended diplomacy with espionage. During his seven years in Pakistan between 1983 and 1987, he operated under the guise of the head of a commercial section at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. To maintain his cover, Doval underwent plastic surgery to alter his pierced ears. One of his most significant intelligence successes involved collecting hair from a local barber shop; subsequent testing revealed traces of uranium, providing critical evidence regarding Pakistan's nuclear programme.

His expertise in counter-terrorism was equally notable during domestic operations. Acting as a rickshaw driver masquerading as a Pakistani operative, Doval entered the Golden Temple throughout 1988's Operation Black Thunder. He also played a pivotal role in the 1991 rescue of a Romanian diplomat held by four Sikh militant groups. His work in the northeast was equally impactful, where he led the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau in Aizawl from 1972 to 1977, helping lay the groundwork for the 1986 Mizoram Peace Accord.

Since his appointment as National Security Advisor in 2014, Doval has transitioned from the shadows to the center of Indian policy. He has overseen major operations, including the 2019 Balakot airstrike and the resolution of the Doklam standoff through diplomatic channels. As the first NSA to be granted the personal rank of a Cabinet Minister, he remains a central figure in India's strategic decision-making, managing complex issues ranging from the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status to the extraction of Indian nurses from Iraq in 2014.

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