NSA Menon humbled, conscious about his new job at PMO

NEW DELHI - National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon is conscious of his new assignment in the PMO, and has assured that he will do his best.

“I am humbled and very conscious that it’s a big responsibilty and will do my best. For the rest you have to wait and let me take over and learn my work,” Menon told ANI after resuming responsibility as the new NSA of the country.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday appointed former Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon as his new National Security Advisor (NSA).

Menon takes over from M K Narayanan who has been appointed as West Bengal Governor.

He is the second former Foreign Secretary to be appointed as NSA and will hold the rank of Minister of State. Earlier, former Foreign Secretary J N Dixit was NSA from May 2004 to January 2005.

Menon, a career diplomat, played a crucial role in the signing of the Indo - US civil nuclear cooperation agreement.

Before becoming Foreign Secretary, Menon had served as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Pakistan and, as India’s Ambassador to China and Israel.

With Home Minister P Chidambaram pursuing reforms in his ministry, Menon, will in all probability focus on matters relating to strategic affairs and diplomacy.

Diplomacy runs in the veins of Menon family, which hails from Ottapalam in Kerala’s Palakkad District.

K. P. S. Menon (Senior), India”"”"”"”s first Foreign Secretary, is his grandfather and K. P. S. Menon (Junior), a former Indian ambassador to China, is his uncle. His father P.N. Menon was also a career diplomat and served as Ambassador to Yugoslavia. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)