The brains behind the blowback against Pak: Meet key figures that form India’s strategic core

New Delhi retaliated two weeks later with Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7 with precision strikes on nine terror-camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 after nearly four days of intense firing between the nuclear-armed neighbours. The United States claimed to have brokered an understanding between the nations, with President Donald Trump also offering a solution “concerning Kashmir.”

Tensions between India and Pakistan were on the boil since a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam last month killed 26 Indian tourists.

New Delhi retaliated two weeks later with Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, with precision strikes on nine terror-camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

With the dust settling on the conflict, for now, Moneycontrol takes a look at the key figures involved in strategising and executing India’s military operations against Pakistan.

NSA Ajit Doval

Born in Uttarakhand in 1945, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has held this position since May 2014.

A retired Indian Police Services (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre and a former intelligence and law enforcement official, Doval was one of the key strategists for Operation Sindoor.

He started his career in 1968 in the IPS, deeply involved in anti-insurgency operations in Mizoram and Punjab. He was also one of the three key negotiators during the Kandahar hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 in 1999, and played a key role in resolving at least 15 hijacking incidents involving Indian Airlines between 1971 and 1999.

Doval also supervised the cross-border surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army in 2016, and the Balakot operation conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2019.

He is credited with being instrumental in ending the Doklam stand-off between India and China in 2017, and  tackling insurgency in the northeast.

Serving predominantly in field operations throughout his career, Doval is known for his uncompromising stance on militancy and terrorism.

CDS Anil Chauhan

Appointed the Chief of Defence Staff  on September 28, 2022, Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retired) has a career spanning nearly 40 years.

He has held several key command and staff positions and has extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and the northeast.

Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981, a regiment raised after independence by a tripartite agreement between India, Nepal, and Britain in November 1947.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, and Indian Military Academy (IMA),  Dehradun, as  a Major General, Chauhan commanded an infantry division in the critical Baramulla sector of the Northern Command.

Later, as Lt General, he commanded a corps in the northeast and subsequently became the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command in September 2019.

CoAS Upendra Dwivedi

Dwivedi assumed office as the Chief of Army Staff  on June 30, 2024.

Dwivedi was commissioned into the Indian Army's infantry unit (Jammu & Kashmir Rifles) on December 15, 1984.

Over a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades, he has held a wide range of command, staff, instructional, and international assignments.

An alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa, the National Defence College, New Delhi, and the US Army War College, Dwivedi has also completed advanced military education at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, and the Army War College, Mhow.

Academically accomplished, he holds an M Phil in defence and management studies, along with two master’s degrees in strategic studies and military science.

For his exceptional service, he has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and three GOC-in-C Commendation Cards.

Chief of the Air Staff AP Singh

The Air Chief Marshal assumed his present role in September 2024.

An alumnus of NDA, DSSC, and NDC, Singh is a qualified flying instructor and an experimental test pilot with more than 5,000 hours of flying on a variety of fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

His operational experience includes commanding a MiG-27 squadron and serving as the Air Officer Commanding of a frontline air base.

As a qualified test pilot, he led the MiG-29 upgrade project  in Moscow. He also served as the Project Director (Flight Test) at the National Flight Test Centre, overseeing the testing of the Tejas aircraft.

In addition, he has held key positions, including Air Defence Commander at the South Western Air Command headquarters and Senior Air Staff Officer at the Eastern Air Command headquarters.

Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Dinesh K Tripathi

An alumnus of Sainik School Rewa and the National Defence Academy, Admiral Tripathi took over command as the 26th CNS on April 30, 2024.  He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1985,  and specialises in communication and electronic warfare.

His assignments include command of the INS Vinash (Missile Vessel), INS Kirch (Missile Corvette), and INS Trishul (Guided Missile Frigate).

While in command of INS Kirch, Tripathi played a pivotal role during the HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) operations after the subcontinent was struck by a tsunami in 2004.

His other sea-going appointments include Executive Officer of INS Mumbai (Guided Missile Destroyer), Fleet Electronic Warfare Officer, Fleet Communication Officer, as also the Fleet Operations Officer (akin to the Chief of Staff to the Fleet Commander) of the western fleet.

His diverse experience due to his sea and staff appointments have enabled him to grasp the nuances of plans, operations, personnel and practically every aspect of the navy’s functioning, according to the Indian Navy website.

Army Air Defence Chief Sumer Ivan D'Cunha

Lt Gen D’Cunha assumed the role of AAD Chief in 2023.

An alumnus of the IMA, he was commissioned into the Corps of Army Air Defence in December 1988.

A graduate in engineering, D’Cunha attended the Higher Command Course at the Army War College and the National Defence College, New Delhi.

During his decades-long service, D’Cunha has held various instructional and staff appointments, including command of a missile regiment, an air defence brigade in the western sector, and General Officer Commanding, Madhya Pradesh Sub-Area.