New Delhi: The government on Thursday granted one-year extension to Intelligence Bureau (IB) head Arvind Kumar, and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the country’s external intelligence agency, chief Samant Goel beyond their current two-year tenure ending on June 30.
Kumar and Goel are experts on Pakistan and had contributed actively in the February 26, 2019 Balakot airstrike on across the Line of Control.
A 1984-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Kumar has served on important desks in the IB, including Kashmir and Left-Wing Extremism, while Goel, also of the same batch but from the Punjab cadre, has served on the Pakistan desk and on groups working against the interest of country from Europe.
The extensions were cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Apart from designated charters such as Kashmir and Left-Wing Extremism, Kumar has spent much time in planning operations and strategic moves in certain insurgency areas in the North East.
Kumar is a recipient of the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
Goel looked after the security of the Punjab chief minister in 2000 and 2001, besides holding other important posts both in his state cadre and at the Centre.
Goel is considered an expert on issues related to the Punjab militancy and Pakistan, and has played an important role in checking militancy in the state during the 1990s.
He is a recipient of the Police Medal for Gallantry and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and joined RAW in March 2001. PTI

Press Trust of India