Ex-RAW chief Alok Joshi made National Security Advisory Board head

New Delhi: Former RAW chief and NTRO chairman Alok Joshi has been appointed as the new chairman of National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) that advises the National Security Adviser and National Security Council Secretariat.

Joshi is considered one of the finest intelligence officers with deep knowledge of the neighbourhood and brings with him knowledge of technical intelligence apparatus.

India's former envoy to Russia and one of India's finest minds on geopolitics and disarmament issues, DB Venkatesh Verma, has also been included in the reconstituted NSAB. Verma had also served in the PMO and played an important role in the India-USA nuclear deal.

NSAB has been reconstituted days after the terror attack. Other members are Pankaj Saran (former envoy to Russia and Bangladesh and current convenor, NATSTRAT), Lt Gen AK Singh (retd), AB Mathur, RAdm Monty Khanna (retd), Prof K Kamakoti (IIT Madras), BS Murthy, Air Mar Pankaj 'Panky' Sinha (retd), MM Singh and RR Verma, Devendra Sharma, Bimal Patel (international law specialist), R Radhakrishnan and VAdm PS Cheema (retd). Rajiv Verma and Manmohan Singh are the two retired members from the IPS.