Ajit Doval Recalls Sikkim Intelligence Mission That Once Made Him Fear His Career Was Over
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has recalled one of the most difficult episodes of his early intelligence career, when a team sent on a border-surveillance mission in Sikkim was taken into Chinese custody. Doval shared the experience while addressing the convocation ceremony of IIT Roorkee on September 19, 2026, describing how the incident left him convinced that his professional career could be over.
Doval said he was in his twenties at the time and was a young IPS officer who had recently entered the intelligence profession. He was posted as the intelligence in-charge in Sikkim during the period when the territory was moving towards its integration with India. One of his responsibilities was to monitor developments along the border and gather information about Chinese military activity.
Intelligence Team Goes Missing
According to Doval's recollection, an intelligence team was sent towards the border on a surveillance mission that was expected to last only a few days. However, the team failed to return on schedule. As more days passed without any communication, the situation became increasingly concerning.
Doval eventually received information from his headquarters asking whether he had sent personnel towards China. After confirming that he had, he was told that the team had been caught by Chinese forces and was being held in Chinese custody. The personnel were subsequently interrogated and later released. Doval recalled that their condition upon returning was extremely poor.
Inquiry Cleared Doval
The incident naturally created serious professional pressure for the young intelligence officer. Doval recalled that he believed the episode could bring his career to an end. However, an inquiry into the incident did not hold him responsible.
According to Doval's account, the investigation found defects and mistakes in the maps and sketches provided to the team by headquarters. These inaccuracies contributed to the team crossing into an area where it was subsequently detained by Chinese forces. The episode nevertheless left a lasting impression on Doval, who described the period as one of the most distressing phases of his career.
The Sherpa's Lesson That Stayed With Him
Doval also connected the incident with advice he received from a Tibetan Sherpa colleague associated with the Intelligence Bureau. The Sherpa used the idea of map-reading to explain how people should approach difficult situations in life.
The lesson, as Doval recalled it, centred on three questions: where you are, where you want to go and what route you need to take to reach your destination and return safely. What began as practical advice related to navigating difficult terrain eventually became, for Doval, a broader principle for approaching professional and personal challenges.
From a Career Crisis to a Larger Life Lesson
Doval's account also formed part of his wider message to students at IIT Roorkee. Speaking to graduating students, he highlighted the opportunities available to the younger generation in an era of rapid technological development. He stressed that technology would play an increasingly important role in the progress of societies and countries.
The recollection offers a rare glimpse into the uncertainty surrounding Doval's early intelligence career. An operation that initially appeared to be a major professional setback ultimately became an experience he carried forward as a lesson in preparation, direction and resilience.
The MGMM Outlook
Ajit Doval’s recollection of a high-risk intelligence mission in Sikkim offers a rare insight into the challenges he faced during his early career. While serving as a young intelligence officer, Doval recalled how a team sent for border surveillance was detained by Chinese forces after crossing into a sensitive area, leaving him worried that the incident could end his career. An inquiry later found that inaccuracies in maps and sketches provided by headquarters had contributed to the incident, and Doval was cleared of responsibility. The experience nevertheless became an important chapter in his professional journey, demonstrating the importance of accurate information, preparation and careful decision-making in sensitive border operations.
The incident also became a broader life lesson for Doval, inspired by advice from a Tibetan Sherpa colleague about knowing where you are, where you want to go and which route will safely take you there. Sharing the experience with IIT Roorkee graduates, Doval connected this lesson with the opportunities before India's younger generation, particularly as technology continues to shape national and global development. His story underlines how difficult experiences can provide lasting lessons in resilience, direction, preparation and the importance of having a clear goal while navigating complex challenges.
(Sources: Firstpost, India Today, NDTV)
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