New Delhi: The government on Monday granted National Security Advisor Ajit Doval cabinet status with an additional five-year tenure as NSA in “recognition of his contribution to the national security domain.” Doval had earlier held the rank of a minister of state.

“NSA Ajit Doval given Cabinet rank in Government of India in recognition of his contribution in the national security domain. His appointment will be for five years,” news agency ANI reported.

A 1968-batch Indian Police Service officer, Doval’s second stint as NSA was speculated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath for the second term.

Doval was a former Intelligence Bureau chief. He also oversaw the Balakot strike after the Pulwama terror attack and the surgical strike after the Uri strike in 2016. He was also involved in anti-insurgency operations in Mizoram and Punjab. Notably, he was one of the three officials who negotiated the release of passengers from the hi-jacked IC-814 place in Kandahar in 1999.

Doval has also been the subject of many controversies. In March, the CBI rejected allegations that it had illegally tapped the phones of Doval and CBI’s former special director Rakesh Ashthana.