The government on Thursday extended the tenures of Samant Kumar Goel, Secretary, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), and Arvind Kumar, Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) for a period of one year. The two 1984-batch IPS officers of Punjab and Assam-Meghalaya cadre respectively will now hold charge till June 30, 2022. 

The decision to extend the terms of the two intelligence chiefs was taken on the basis of their work and also taking the future of organizations into consideration. Goel has been a hard-core operations man, while Kumar is known for his ability to cut through the clutter and accurately assess the country’s internal security and political situation. Both work under the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

While the government does divulge the activities carried out by R&AW, the IB has been giving active feedback to the government on the internal security situation including political protests, Maoist activities and terror networks.

Goel was appointed as the Chief of R&AW on June 26, 2019, replacing Anil Dhasmana. He had been instrumental in handling the Punjab militancy crisis at its peak in the 1990s.

Goel also played an important role in planning the February 2019 Balakot air strikes following the Pulwama terror attack, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF troopers.

He was instrumental in planning the 2016 'surgical strikes' carried out by the armed forces following the Uri terror attack.

Goel was also posted as in-charge consular affairs in Dubai and London.

(With IANS inputs)