J&K Born Vikram Misri is New Foreign Secretary of India

JAMMU: India’s current Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) Vikram Misri has been named as the next Foreign Secretary of the country.

A 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Misri succeeds Vinay Mohan Kwatra, who received a six-month extension in March. Kwatra is likely to be appointed as India’s ambassador to the US.

Born on November 7, 1964, in Srinagar, Misri, a 1989 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has served in various key positions, including Deputy NSA, ambassador to China, Spain, and Myanmar, and Private Secretary to multiple Prime Ministers.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the name of Misri, the deputy NSA in the National Security Council Secretariat, to the post of foreign secretary with effect from July 15, an official notification said.

Misri’s appointment comes as India looks to navigate various foreign policy challenges including its frosty ties with China following the eastern Ladakh border row.

He has the rare distinction of serving as private secretary to three prime ministers – Inder Kumar Gujral, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.

Before he was appointed as the deputy NSA, Misri served as India’s ambassador to China from 2019-2021.

Misri, 59, is believed to have played a key role in talks between India and China after tensions flared significantly following the Galwan Valley clashes in June, 2020.

The ties between the two countries majorly nosedived following a fierce clash in the Galwan Valley that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

In his illustrious career, Misri also served as India’s ambassador to Spain (2014-2016) and Myanmar (2016-2018) besides having stints in many Indian missions including Pakistan, the US, Germany, Belgium and Sri Lanka.