New Foreign Secy Shringla says will seek unambiguous approach to terrorism

January 29, 2020

New Delhi: Seasoned diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who on Wednesday took charge as new Foreign Secretary, said he would seek an unambiguous approach to terrorism which was posing a threat to free societies.

In a statement to media after assuming charge, the new Foreign Secretary, who succeeds Vijay Gokhale, counted sustaining the gains of a rules-based multilateral order, enhancing developmental and economic linkages ands connectivities with India’s neighbours and building synergies with major powers as other tasks at hand.

”I look forward to working with India’s many partners in the international system – in enhancing developmental and economic linkages, as well as connectivities, with our neighbours; building synergies with major powers; seeking a shared, undifferentiated and unambiguous approach to terrorism and the threat it poses to free societies; and sustaining the gains of a rules-based multilateral order,” he said.

The primary objective of the MEA and the IFS was to advance the national interests across the world, serve the people of India, wherever they may be and enhance the security and prosperity of India through external ties and the well-being of all Indians, said Shringla, whose last posting as in US as India’s Ambassador.

He also said that sharing the Indian developmental experience with countries of the global south, especially with India’s friends in Africa and Latin America, will continue to be a priority, and he looked forward to the opening of new missions and the inauguration of new initiatives.

He noted global warming, challenges in the cyber domian and emerging technologies as other important areas needing attention.

”The MEA fully appreciates the critical nature of these issues for our country and planet,” he said.
—India News Stream