What are the unmistakable concerns of the world today? Ukraine- Israel-Gaza: long drawn Conflicts accompanied by incalculable human sufferings & humanitarian crises and infrastructural destruction with no end in sight and huge negative consequences for the Global South.
Impending Change of Govts in the UK. France, Iran, USA and more than a dozen countries facing elections in coming months and impact their results may have on India.
Raging tension and brinkmanship between the US & China & Russia.
China’s aggressiveness & intimidation against her neighbours, especially in South China Sea & her obvious intention to interfere in the selection of the next Dalai Lama.
Relations in immediate neighbourhood: China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives & Nepal experiencing considerable challenges. Lengthening shadows of China in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Bhutan remain cause of worry.
Above all, modernising our Defence forces, securing our borders & ensuring the rightful place on the Global stage for the rising, ambitious and aspirational India which is the leading voice of the Global South.
Unprecedented heat waves, rains and floods are stark warning of the grave existential crises the world is facing from global warming and climate changes and urgent need to fulfil pledges, follow up and take concrete action rather than resort to high sounding rhetoric and hollow declarations.
More than 57 countries, many in Africa, are in the grip of crippling debt crises, must get this problem addressed on priority.
Terrorism, cybercrimes, crypto currency, money laundering, data harvesting, storage & it’s tarnsfer, benefits and risks of unbridled use of Artificial Intelligence are issues that deserve global discourse, cooperation & efforts at consensus building.
In these challenging times, India needs a Foreign Secretary who is blessed with sharp intellect, incisive analysis, uncluttered understanding, unaffected by unexpected crises and single-mindedly focused on executing the broad foreign policy objectives enunciated by the Prime Minister & the External Affairs Minister. Incoming Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri has these qualities in abundance.
What could be a better proof of Vikram’s ability to read the mind of his Boss, adroitness and agility to adopt and adapt, offer his honest and objective advise and facilitate implementation of PM’s instructions than the fact that he has served as PS to three Prime Ministers of India: Sh IK Gujaral, Dr Manmohan Singh & Sh Narendra Modi who have nothing in common in their personality, mindset, approach and working style. The Only other diplomat who has worked with so many Prime Ministers is Amb. Ronen Sen. Besides the three Prime Ministers, Misri also had the opportunity to see one of the most erudite and experienced politicians of India, Pranab Mukherjee, in action from close quarters; he served as the Director of EAM’s office when Pranab Da was the EAM.
Nothing baptizes an Indian diplomat more to deal with difficult and sensitive issues than serving in the neighbouring countries. And Misri has served in two: China & Myanmar with both of whom India shares long border and history marred by unhappy developments. In fact, Vikram was in Beijing when China demolished the Peace and tranquillity of over 40, years on the LAC in violation of several agreements, committed unprovoked aggression in Galwan valley and killed around 30 Indian soldiers.
During his tenure in Myanmar (2016-2018) he has been an eye witness to the eruption of the Rohingyas crisis in Rakhine province. It’s an open secret how the exodus of Rohingyas has impacted India-Myanmar, India-Bangladesh relations and India’s North Eastern region and even domestic political discourse in India.
The Chinese dragon is everywhere, whichever direction we look at: neighbourhood & extended neighbourhood, South East Asia, Africa, South America & of course USA. Whether we are talking about the Indo-Pacific or the QUAD, China is very much an essential part of the discussion in spite of her absence. It isn’t a mere coincidence that we will have the Foreign Secretary and the EAM both of whom have served as Ambassador to China. And PM Modi has met the Chinese President 18 times. So, though India-China relations are passing through a difficult phase, we are in good hands and should hope for the best possible outcome.
Though not as significant economically, militarily and not impactful globally as China, Pakistan remains a constant problem for the Mandarins of foreign policy in India thanks to its infrastructure for recruiting and training terrorists and using terrorism as a tool of state policy and irrepressible ambition to be on par with India in spite of the serious economic crises it is facing. Vikram is familiar with the complexities of India-Pakistan relations having served in his earlier incarnation in the Pakistan Division twice.
As the Deputy National Security Adviser, he isn’t familiar with threat of terrorism only from Pakistan, Afghanistan ,Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives but also with threat posed by the Khalistani elements in UK,USA & Canada .It’s strange that in so called liberal democracies : Canada & USA individuals declared as terrorists and wanted in India roam around freely, heckle and intimidate Indian diplomats and issue threats to kill Indian political leaders and blow up Indian airlines but no punitive action is taken against them in the name of the freedom of expression but a lot of song and dance is made around allegations that Indian Intelligence agencies might have been involved in aborted attempts to have some wanted Khalistanis eliminated. Misri’s stint as Dy NSA should stand in good stead in addressing these sensitive issues.
Foreign Secretary’s roots in Kashmir might somewhat change the perception of the state which often remains in the news for the wrong reasons. An undergraduate from the Hindu College like the PNG Minister Hardeep Puri, Misri also holds an MBA from Jamshedpur. What’s Vikram’s USP? Cool like cucumber! Unflappable! Unassuming! Never throwing his weight around or hankering to grab headlines!
He is the right choice for implementing EAM’s three Mantras uttered while entering the South Block as the reappointed EAM in PM Modi’s third term: Bharat Pratham. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam & Vishwa Bandhu! Let the dialogue and diplomacy prevail.