'I knew this was the end of my career': Doval recalls when China captured his agents

NEW DELHI: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval reminisced about a challenging period in his early career when a team of operatives sent to the border disappeared and were later apprehended by Chinese authorities. Addressing the convocation ceremony of IIT Roorkee, Doval expressed his deep concern when he received no updates on the agents' whereabouts.

He recounted a conversation with his boss, who asked, "Have you sent some people across?" Doval admitted to uncertainty, stating that the operatives should have arrived within five to six days, but it had been ten or eleven days. He revealed that the Chinese had captured the operatives and interrogated them, but eventually returned them.

The agents were reportedly "shattered, in shambles" upon their return. A subsequent inquiry found Doval not at fault, attributing the incident to inaccuracies in the sketches and maps provided by the headquarters. The NSA also addressed the promising prospects for the younger generation, emphasizing the technological advancements and opportunities available to them in the present age.