Shashank to succeed Sibal as foreign secretary

The government on Tuesday night appointed Shashank to succeed Kanwal Sibal as India's foreign secretary. Sibal retires on November 30 this year.

Shashank is a 1966 batch Indian Foreign Service Officer.

The appointments committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Shashank, the most senior among secretaries in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Shashank is currently serving as Secretary (Europe, Africa and America) in the MEA.

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During his long diplomatic career, Shashank has held postings in a host of countries including Pakistan, Denmark, South Korea, Libya, Egypt, Vietnam, Brazil, and in India's Permanent Mission at the UN.

He also served in various capacities in the Ministry of External Affairs and was Secretary (Economic Relations) before becoming Secretary (Europe, Africa and America).

Shashank has been actively involved in energising the ASEAN-India relations resulting in two summits.

Whenever Sibal as foreign secretary was out of the country, it is Shashank who has handled the work of the top official of the MEA.

Asked whether economic diplomacy would come under more focus during his tenure as foreign secretary, Shashank told PTI that this is already a part of the ongoing exercise.

"We work under the team leadership of the External Affairs Minister," he said.