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Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra granted six-month extension amid speculation
Amidst rumors and speculation, Kwatra's name had been floated as a potential candidate for the vacant post of Indian ambassador to the United States
Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra / Image- X (@AmbVMKwatra)
The Indian government granted Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra a six-month extension, prolonging his tenure until the end of October 2024. This extension comes just weeks before Kwatra's scheduled tenure concludes at the end of April this year.
While the decision, aligned with recent extensions for senior bureaucrats, aiming to ensure continuity as the country braces for upcoming general elections, it caught many off guard.
Amidst rumors and speculation, Kwatra's name had been floated as a potential candidate for the vacant post of Indian ambassador to the United States. However, with this extension, it remains uncertain whether the government will make any announcements regarding ambassadorial appointments before or after the elections.
Vinay Kwatra, a career diplomat of the 1988 Indian Foreign Service (IFS) batch, assumed office as Foreign Secretary in May 2022. Previously, in November 2022, he was granted a 16-month extension to fulfill the requisite two-year term. Kwatra's tenure has been marked by significant diplomatic challenges in addressing critical issues such as the Ukraine crisis, the standoff with China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and India's G20 presidency in 2023.
The recent extension of Vinay Kwatra's tenure raises questions about the vacant position of the Indian ambassador to the United States. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, the former ambassador, concluded his illustrious 35-year career on January 31, leaving the crucial post unfilled. Speculation has been rife in diplomatic circles about potential candidates for this position, with Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri being one of the top contenders.
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