The Hindu : National : Advisory group on foreign affairs likely

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

National

National

Advisory group on foreign affairs likely

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI, JAN. 25. M.K. Narayanan, former chief of the Intelligence Bureau, will be the new National Security Adviser, an official in the Prime Minister's Office said this evening.

Soon after the Congress-led Government took power, Mr. Narayanan was appointed Security Adviser to the Prime Minister and given additional charge of NSA's duties after J.N. Dixit passed away on January 3.

In another development, Chinmay Gharekhan, India's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, will be the country's new Special Representative for West Asia. One of the focus areas for Mr. Gharekhan will be Iraq.

The sources also said that the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, was likely to form an "advisory group" on foreign affairs to aid and advise him on a range of international questions. An announcement in this regard is expected shortly.

NSA's role defined

According to the sources, the job of re-assessing the National Security Adviser's role and scope was conducted following the passing away of Dixit. After this task was completed, a formal announcement relating to Mr. Narayanan's appointment was made.

The new arrangement is expected to ensure smooth coordination between the National Security Adviser and the External Affairs Ministry.

It is expected that the new interlocutors for Pakistan and China will be made known in the next few days.

A retired Indian Foreign Service officer with experience in handling Pakistan could be appointed as India's representative in the back channel with Islamabad.

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