Action awaited on overdue diplomatic postings

The stunning performance of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi assembly elections has, doubtless, shaken Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Although the BJP leadership keeps insisting that the election was not a referendum on Modi, the fallout of this election would be felt far beyond Delhi.

This election aroused more interest among the diplomatic community in Delhi than any other since Modi assumed office in May last. The disproportionate interest of the foreign missions in this relatively “small” election may be attributed to the BJP treating it as a prestige affair; and, the larger consequences that may follow in the elections to come, such as in Bihar.

Even as the NDA government braces itself for the challenges ahead at home, the question is whether Modi would continue to conduct foreign affairs with his characteristic panache, without being unduly distracted by the “AAP effect”.

Since Modi became Prime Minister, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been awaiting serious action on diplomatic postings. According to sources in the MEA, there are at least 15 ambassadorial posts that have not been filled. In some cases, incumbents are carrying on because the successor is yet to be finalised. For instance, these sources said, the appointment of a new ambassador to Syria – the world’s hottest spot – is long overdue. Similar is the case of Saudia Arabia, where the flux in the aftermath of King Abdullah’s death, underscores the need to hasten with the appointment.

Besides these 15 posts of ambassadors, the government, according to informed sources, has to decide on the posting of 30 more ambassadors – including to Bangladesh, South Korea and Bahrain -- in the next six months or so.

However, there was no movement towards a decision because – as it has now been confirmed – the Prime Minister was not happy with Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and was waiting for President Obama’s visit to be over before replacing her with S Jaishankar.

Obama has come and gone. Some of the shine of Obama’s visit is also beginning to fade with his emphatic remarks on religious tolerance creating a backlash and doubts being raised over claims of a “breakthrough” in India-US nuclear cooperation.

Sujatha Singh was reported to have prepared a list of names for being posted as ambassadors; and, created a system for finalising names six months before an incumbent was due to move out so that there are smooth transitions. She was keen on taking the list and her proposals directly to the Prime Minister. She avoided routing it through External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj because Modi as the Prime Minister is the deciding authority. However, given the chill in relations between her and the PMO, Singh could not place it before the PM, and there was no movement in postings.

Now, not only has Jaishankar taken charge but he also has an excellent rapport with Modi. The just-concluded heads-of-mission conference in Delhi, which brought together Indian diplomats from across the world was also an opportunity for both Jaishankar and the Prime Minister to proceed with finalising the overdue appointments of ambassadors.

The emphasis in the first heads-of-mission conference under this NDA government – addressed by Modi, Sushma Swaraj and Jaishankar -- was on the importance of a change in mindset to cope with new challenges arising from a break with the past in formulating foreign policy.

The Prime Minister was said to be waiting for Jaishankar to take charge for finalising important diplomatic appointments. Though three appointments have been announced as of yesterday, a whole lot more remain in abeyance. Given Modi’s confidence in Jaishankar – who, observers said, could be the most powerful foreign secretary in recent years – the announcement of the pending appointments would be the next major action on the foreign front.

The author is an independent political and foreign affairs commentator