Brain behind decoding Doklam issue: Vijay Gokhale to take over as New Foreign Secretary

NewsBharati    02-Jan-2018
Total Views |

New Delhi, January 2: The brain behind solving the longest face-off between India and China during Doklam issue, who was none other than Vijay Gokhale, is set to take over as New Foreign Secretary. Vijay Gokhale, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of 1981 batch, will take over as the New Foreign Secretary once S Jaishankar completes his tenure towards the January end. 

India, China faceoff lasted for a lengthy span of time and was one of the toughest challenges, which later on ended right before the BRICS Summit that took place in Xiamen, China. Vjay Gokhale played a key role by resolving the face-off between Indian Army and Chinese People's Liberation Army at Doklam Plateau in western Bhutan. It was his last major task as Secretary for Economic Relations at the MEA headquarters.


 

Vijay Gokhale was India’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China from January 2016 to October 2017. Before his assignment in Beijing, he served as India’s Ambassador to Germany from October 2013 to January 2016. He was also India’s High Commissioner to Malaysia from 2010 to 2013. Vijay Gokhale was the one who was constantly in contact with the Chinese counterpart helping resolve the crisis that was termed a “challenge” for the relationship between neighbours.

Vijay Gokhale came back to the South Block soon after, assuming the charge of Secretary (Economic Relations) but the corridors of power were abuzz that he was the man set to take charge once Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar’s extension gets over in January end.

Two months down the line, the formal appointment has been confirmed: the 1981 batch Indian Foreign Service officer is indeed the next Foreign Secretary.