India’s most familiar foreign ministry face now India’s permanent representative at the UN

Syed Akbaruddin, who became a familiar face as spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, is now going to take over as India’s permanent representative at the United Nations in New York.

In a major rejig at the MEA, Akbaruddin will be handling the position, replacing Asoke Mukerji who will be retiring.

Also, Gautam Bambawale, India's ambassador to Bhutan, will take over from TCA Raghavan as high commissioner to Pakistan when the latter retires in December.

Bambawale is an expert on China and will be taking over one of India's most sensitive diplomatic positions.

While, present secretary (west) in MEA, Navtej Sarna, will be India's next high commissioner to London, Anil Wadhwa, secretary (east), will go to Rome.

The two senior-most officials in headquarters will be replaced by Amar Sinha, who has been India’s ambassador to Afghanistan, and Amarendra Khatua, who is currently ambassador to Argentina. They will be the next Secretaries East and West.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, P S Raghavan will be replaced by Pankaj Saran. Saran, who is currently India's high commissioner to Dhaka, has believed to have played a key role in securing the land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh.

Vijay Gokhale, India's ambassador to Germany, will go to Beijing.

Sujan Chinoy, India's ambassador to Mexico, will take over from Deepa Wadhwa in Tokyo.

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