Pankaj Saran, India's envoy to Russia, appointed Deputy NSA

New Delhi: In a major development, the Government of India on Tuesday appointed senior diplomat Pankaj Saran as Deputy National Security Advisor. Saran is currently serving as India's Ambassador to Russia.

''The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Saran's appointment as the deputy NSA for a period of two years, on deputation basis initially till the date of his superannuation, ie November 30, 2018, then on re-employment on a contract basis,'' an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said.

The 1982 batch officer of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) was in November 2015 appointed as India's envoy to Russia. 

He had held various positions in India and abroad including the country's High Commissioner to Bangladesh. 

He also served as the Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office between 2007 and 2012.  

Saran also worked as the Counsellor (political and commercial), Embassy of India in Cairo during 1999 and 2002 and as the First Secretary (political) in the country's mission in Washington between 1992 and 1994.

His wife Preeti Saran is Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Former chief of the Intelligence Bureau, Ajit Doval is the National Security Adviser. He is assisted by Deputy National Security Advisers.

Ex-chief of India's external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Rajinder Khanna was in January this year also appointed as the Deputy NSA.

(With PTI inputs)