05-26-2004, 06:11 PM
India names key security adviser
<b>Former Indian foreign secretary JN Dixit has been appointed to the crucial post of national security adviser.</b>
Mr Dixit, a former high commissioner to Pakistan, is expected to play a key role in peace negotiations.
He succeeds Brajesh Mishra, a leading confidante of defeated prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Mr Vajpayee began peace moves last year, and Mr Mishra is credited with a central role in how talks have been conducted so far.
India's new Congress-led government has promised to continue the fledgling peace process.
'Professional'
The country's national security adviser is instrumental in shaping internal and external security policy.
As India's former top diplomat, Mr Dixit clearly does not lack experience, and is well versed in ties with Pakistan, observers say.
But they expect a different emphasis with his predecessor gone.
"Brajesh Mishra came with political baggage, but Dixit is expected to work full-time only as the adviser and give more professional opinions," Rahul Bedi, a leading defence analyst in Delhi, told the BBC.
He said the new adviser would have to create a national security culture.
"The concept of national security only evolved in India in the mid-1980s."
Another analyst said the fact Mr Dixit was an old hand in foreign affairs would stand him in good stead.
Policy agenda
Mr Dixit, 68, was born in the southern city of Madras, and spent nearly four decades in India's Foreign Service.
He retired 10 years ago to write and teach, and recently joined the Congress party.
He is expected to take up his new duties shortly, an official announcement said on Wednesday.
It came as partners in the centre-left coalition were trying to sort out last-minute differences over the government's policy agenda - due to be published on Thursday.
The so-called common minimum programme focuses mainly on economic issues, and no shift is expected on the talks with Pakistan.
http://news.bbc.co.uk
<b>Former Indian foreign secretary JN Dixit has been appointed to the crucial post of national security adviser.</b>
Mr Dixit, a former high commissioner to Pakistan, is expected to play a key role in peace negotiations.
He succeeds Brajesh Mishra, a leading confidante of defeated prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Mr Vajpayee began peace moves last year, and Mr Mishra is credited with a central role in how talks have been conducted so far.
India's new Congress-led government has promised to continue the fledgling peace process.
'Professional'
The country's national security adviser is instrumental in shaping internal and external security policy.
As India's former top diplomat, Mr Dixit clearly does not lack experience, and is well versed in ties with Pakistan, observers say.
But they expect a different emphasis with his predecessor gone.
"Brajesh Mishra came with political baggage, but Dixit is expected to work full-time only as the adviser and give more professional opinions," Rahul Bedi, a leading defence analyst in Delhi, told the BBC.
He said the new adviser would have to create a national security culture.
"The concept of national security only evolved in India in the mid-1980s."
Another analyst said the fact Mr Dixit was an old hand in foreign affairs would stand him in good stead.
Policy agenda
Mr Dixit, 68, was born in the southern city of Madras, and spent nearly four decades in India's Foreign Service.
He retired 10 years ago to write and teach, and recently joined the Congress party.
He is expected to take up his new duties shortly, an official announcement said on Wednesday.
It came as partners in the centre-left coalition were trying to sort out last-minute differences over the government's policy agenda - due to be published on Thursday.
The so-called common minimum programme focuses mainly on economic issues, and no shift is expected on the talks with Pakistan.
http://news.bbc.co.uk
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