Former Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, who also served as High Commissioner to Pakistan was appointed National Security Adviser (NSA) to succeed M K Narayanan. Menon, who will enjoy the status of Minister of State, had also served as ambassador to China and High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

A career diplomat, Menon enjoyed the confidence of the Prime Minister as he served as Foreign Secretary for about three years under him dealing with Pakistan on crucial occasions. Appointed by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet on the new position, Menon had also a crucial three-year stint as High Commissioner to Pakistan. He was also part of the Indian delegation when Pak-India joint statement was issued in Sharm-el Sheikh last year delinking the issue of terrorism from Composite Dialogue process.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010