‘There Are Other Means’: NSA Ajit Doval Explains Why He Avoids Mobile Phones and Internet

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Saturday revealed that he does not use a mobile phone or the internet for his day-to-day work, noting that there are other secure means of communication available.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Doval said he only uses a phone for family matters or when communicating with officials abroad.

“I don’t know where you get all this. It is true that I do not use the internet. I also do not use a phone, except for family matters or for speaking to people in other countries, which is necessary. I manage my work that way. There are many other means of communication as well, and some additional methods have to be arranged that people are not aware of,” he said.

Doval’s comments come amid circulating stories and social media posts about him, many of which have been debunked as fabrications. Last year, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) exposed a fake Facebook post attributed to Doval, warning of a cyberattack from Pakistan, clarifying that he does not maintain any official social media accounts.

About Ajit Doval

• Birth and Early Career: Born in Uttarakhand in 1945, Doval joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1968, assigned to the Kerala cadre.

• Kirti Chakra: In 1989, he became the youngest recipient of the Kirti Chakra for his counterinsurgency work in Punjab, a rare award for a police officer, typically reserved for military personnel.

• Intelligence and Security Work: Doval has spent decades in intelligence, internal security, and counter-terrorism, working on insurgency operations in Punjab, Mizoram, and the Northeast.

• Hijacking Negotiations: He played a key role in handling aircraft hijackings between 1971 and 1999, including negotiating the IC-814 hijacking crisis in Kandahar. He reportedly spent years working undercover in Pakistan.

• NSA Role: Appointed National Security Advisor in 2014, Doval has been involved in major national security decisions, including the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, and the Doklam standoff.

Doval’s remarks underscore his unique working style, prioritising secure, low-profile communication over conventional digital methods in handling India’s sensitive national security matters.