New Delhi, April 30: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla retires on Saturday after serving at the helm for just over two years, with Foreign Secretary-designate and former Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra set to take charge on Sunday. Cool and unruffled, Foreign Secretary Shringla held charge during a time that saw India grappling with some tough geo-political happenings, including the Covid pandemic and its fallout, the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, worsening of ties with China over the border clash, the Ukraine conflict and its fallout, and the formation and strengthening of new groupings, including the Quad and Bimstec. He has been appointed India’s G20 coordinator with New Delhi set to assume presidency later this year after Indonesia hosts the Summit. India will host the G20 summit next year. FS Shringla has been a key points person during India’s evacuation of its students from Ukraine, and was present in all the meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brief him about the developments. India successfully evacuated 20,000 students from Ukraine under Operation Ganga, that saw some deft diplomacy by India to bring out the students unscathed. An IFS officer of 1984 batch, Shringla took over as Foreign Secretary on January 29, 2020. The Ministry of External Affairs held a farewell for him on Friday in hybrid format that was attended by officers from across the globe. India’s Ambassador in France Jawed Ashraf in a tweet posted: “Large MEA turnout from across the world to say farewell to a very popular Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla. “Consensus: Led MEA inspirationally in unprecedented times for the world and India. Leadership based on high intellectual & diplomatic skills and strong support for people.” Foreign Secretary Shringla, posted his thanks: “Many thanks Jawed and to all my colleagues and friends in the service and ministry. It has been a privilege serving the nation and working with some of the finest who are doing so.” The Australian Ambassador to India Barry O’Farrell in a tweet said he conveyed his thanks to Foreign Secretary Shringla “under whose watch the Australia-India relationship has gone from strength to strength, particularly for all his efforts on our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, #Quad and #IndAusECTA. #dosti” The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in a note on April 4, had approved the appointment of Vinay Mohan Kwatra as the new Foreign Secretary upon the superannuation of Shringla on April 30. Kwatra accompanied External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on his visit to Bangladesh and Bhutan, two important neighbors. (UNI)
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