World

India appoints new foreign secretary

Ranjan Mathai will succeed Nirupama Rao as foreign secretary.

Aditi Phadnis June 28, 2011

NEW DELHI:

He’s quiet, low profile and uncontroversial. The diplomat of diplomats, Ranjan Mathai, India’s ambassador in France was appointed foreign secretary on Monday. Mathai will succeed Nirupama Rao who has been named India’s ambassador to the US.

A 1974-batch IFS officer, 59-year-old Mathai will assume charge on August 1 and will have a two-year term, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash announced. He will occupy the top post at a time when India’s relations with Pakistan are gradually getting back on track and its strategic partnership with the US has reached new heights. Mathai was chosen above two other colleagues: Sharat Sabharwal posted as ambassador in Pakistan; and Hardeep Puri, India’s permanent representative in the United Nations. Puri has been retained in the UN to ensure a degree of continuity.

Mathai, who did his M A in political science from Pune University, has served in Indian missions in Vienna, Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels.

As joint secretary in the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi between January 1995 to February 1998, he headed the division dealing with India’s relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives. He held the post of Deputy High Commissioner in India’s mission in the UK from August 2005 to January 2007.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (16)

Tanveer Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply @Asif Butt: Of course, Kashmir belongs to the Kashmiri people and their ownership should be made distinct as well as their citizenship-based democratic rights. Pakistan and India must find a way independently of each other or even better - to do it together. i.e. a bilateral phased military withdrawal.

Asif Butt | 13 years ago | Reply @Gin: Hey Gin , Im sure there must be further issues as well , not just the part of Kashmir to China. Why not let the Kashmiris unite and support them to get it back ? What do you suggest is the proper method / step ? But I suspect you are not getting the point here. I remember a very influential advice once given to be many years ago by my Indian teacher : "Dont miss the forest for the tree" ............

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Buddhdev Pandya | 13 years ago | Reply It is very easy to say. Kashmir is a prime target for the Western powers as a strategic site that can be occupied for many reasons. If there is a dispute between India and Pak, the others can move in to protect the locals. That has been the trend so for. Pak has lost control over its own country with Afghan people moving in with influence much greater than its own. Political control does not rest in the hands of Pak people. It democracy is in tatters and that is shame as it brings huge dangers of instability in the country. Kashmir has been made a disputed territory believing it will be joined with Pak. But that is highly unlikely. It would be best to work to establish some sense of stability in the region and see what can be resolved.

no aman ki aasha nor war | 13 years ago | Reply i remem krishna menon was the one responsible for india's war with China to be lost...is it so?

Nirvan | 13 years ago | Reply It is to India's credit that we are diverse: North and South; twenty six languages and many more states and union territories. We are Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Christian; Rich and Poor and the middle class; Honest politicians and not so honest ones; Thriving businesses with multinational presence; 24/7 media that is rattling the Political classes. Politics is the last resort of a scoundrel and where better to hide, but behind the political petticoat. That happens all over the world but India has the "noble prize" in corruption. But at least we are trying to correct an entrenched system. That is also growth in a cultural sense. I would wish that our neighbors would also follow suit so we can prosper together. India is not an Island that can prosper without its neighbors. My two cents or annas.

Naushad Shafkat | 13 years ago | Reply All Indian Foreign Secretaries have been brilliant and have done an excellent job and so will Mr. Mathai. Credit must go to that great historian and diplomat Sardar K.M. Pannikar who can rightly be called the founder of the Indian Diplomatic/Foreign Service for setting up an institution that brings up such competent people. We must also not forget the late Mr. Krishna Menon who was one of the best Foreign Ministers that India had. Best of luck Mr. Mathai.

Shabbir Baloch | 13 years ago | Reply we will be thankful if India appoints Madhuri Gupta as new foreign secretary, she was very helpful cooperative and successful for ISI.

Gin | 13 years ago | Reply What about the part of Kashmir you people have gifted to China? Get it back from them and then give your suggestion.

Lalit | 13 years ago | Reply @Asif Butt agree with you,there is no alternative of peace.both of these nations have a lot to gain,if they could tolerate each others existence.our relations have become a zero sum game where ones gain is perceived as others loss.both the countries need to maintain a peaceful relation with each other for that purpose,among other issues Kashmir problem has to be solved.now considering the prevailing scenario expecting any one Party to concede even a negligibly scant holding would whip up frenzy among the hardliners of their respective nations,which unfortunately are in an ample number on both side of the Radcliffe.moderators may be in a majority on both the sides but discourse on Kashmir is often hijacked by the shrill voices of hardliners.since this tussle has been turned into a zero sum game,best solution of Kashmir problem,which is not only practical but also has been seconded by a number of commentators,is to convert the LOC into international border.at the same time giving more autonomy to the inhabitants of both Kashmir,and allowing a relatively smoother movement across the border.a complete independence for Kashmir is ,earnestly speaking an illusive dream at least in foreseeable future. my two paisas....

Nirvan | 13 years ago | Reply Asif, Well said. Let Kashmir belong to the Kashmiris, as a united state. Forcibly taking the land does not ensure that the people of Kashmir will accept either country. Indians and Pakistanis, Kashmiris and Baloch and Punjabis and Sindhis have more in common than what seperates them. The enormous amounts spent on defence is unacceptable when it could be spent in devolopment, education, poverty eradication. Pakistanis' have a moral obligation to demand more transparency from their elected government and also send the army back to its barracks. India too has its problems with insurgencies, perhaps fuelled by the Chinese expansionistic philosophy. Pakistan should be careful whom they call all weather friends. Free travel between India, Pakistan and Afghanistan (The Indian PMs wish, breakfast in Delhi, Lunch in Lahore and Dinner in Kabul) is essentail if we are to prosper in all ways. A United states of India and Pakistan including Kashmir is not impossible if we can get the noise from the fundamentalistic voices out of the way. I wish us all luck.

Sameer | 13 years ago | Reply @ Asif - brother, I would like to believe you but the problem is manifold: a) Pakistan must HAVE Kashmir as the military has created itself solely for that reason b) India has too many ethnic groups to say "let's let Kashmir go but hold on to everyone else" The solution is really that India needs to create autonomy in Kashmir and just leave Kashmiris alone. The Indian military can be redeployed to Naxalite regions to crush the insurgency completely and help build infrastructure to bring prosperity to inner areas of India.

Asif Butt | 13 years ago | Reply @Raj , @Paras Hi guys. I take it you are my Indian counterparts. I always wanted to have this short friendly discussion with u fellow neighbors. Question is , Why cant Pakistan & India just let go of Kashmir and let it be ? I mean , dudes , who cares. We need to prosper. We dont need to grab on to as many things as we can now do we ? I mean , what difference would it make. Kashmir will still stay on the map where it was. And the real thing is INFLUENCE. The influence that India carries can never decrease. And India will always be the greater economy and power for a couple of centuries I guess and Pakistan will still stay a poor struggling but highly capable nation waiting for removal of corruption enroute to progress. Isnt it more important that we all could actually meet each other and travel freely and learn whatever possible from each other. And Kashmir can always opt for the patronage on India , since thats whats apparently more FEASIBLE for them. I personally think that we dont want to open up our minds. In true reality , no one can lose whats theirs. Why are we leading such a hostile neighborhood ?

anonymous | 13 years ago | Reply They should appoint Baba ram Dev as foreign secretary.

Kevin Fernandes | 13 years ago | Reply @paras Nirupama Roy was a 60's and 70's bollywood character actor who played mostly mother's role. It is actually nirupama rao

Paras Vikmani | 13 years ago | Reply Hope he continues fine work done by Nirupama Roy.

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply IFS is monopolized by ethical elite of the country.

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