Shivshankar Menon appointed NSA

Former Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon is the new National Security Advisor, succeeding M.K. Narayanan who has already been designated as the West Bengal Governor. Menon might take charge on January 23. The government on Thursday issued orders appointing Shiv Shankar Menon as the next NSA. Menon, who retired as Foreign Secretary last year, will be the fourth incumbent to the post.

The NSA's post was created in 1998 to oversee the management of national security, both in the immediate term and long term. Brajesh Mishra was the first NSA till 2004, and was succeeded by J.N. Dixit, who died in harness in January 2005.

One of the executive functions of the NSA is to serve as chairman of the executive council of the Nuclear Command Authority. In recent years, the NSA has emerged as the Prime Minister's chief negotiator in strategic talks with the big powers.

One thing, however, is certain: the role and office of the NSA, is likely to focus more exclusively on the problems of diplomatic engagement rather than internal security management. This shift in emphasis began when P. Chidambaram took charge of the Home Ministry in 2008.

- Asian Tribune -