As part of the new standard operating procedures, defence minister Manohar Parrikar, the chief of the army staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh, and Doval micro-managed the entire operation from the "war room" in a part of South Block that houses the ministry of defence.


A source present in South Block said the trio arrived separately, so as not to arouse any suspicion, between 11pm and 11.30pm yesterday and stayed till almost dawn. The source described the atmosphere in the war room as akin to the night in the White House when Osama bin Laden was killed by US special forces.


The White House scene was immortalised by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton dropping her jaw and closing her mouth with one hand to suppress her gasp when Osama fell to American bullets.


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Image: US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House.