Arun Singh likely to be new envoy to US

NEW DELHI: India’s current envoy in France Arun Singh is expected to be new Ambassador in Washington --the high profile post which fell vacant after S Jaishankar moved to Delhi late January to take over as the Foreign Secretary.

ET has reliably learnt that Singh would succeed Jaishankar and will move to Washington shortly to give further impetus to bilateral ties that has been upswing over the past few months.

Last month ET had reported that Arun Singh (1979 batch Indian Foreign Service) was among the front-runners to be new envoy in Washington. Ever since Jaishankar returned to the capital after a year in Washington, speculations have been rife as to who could succeed him.

Earlier non-diplomats including corporate honchos were considered for the post -- that is considered one of the most prized ambassadorial posting for an Indian diplomat. Corridors of power have been speculating about Arun Singh, who in the past served as deputy envoy in Washington for nearly five years and considered an effective diplomat.

A former Ambassador to Israel, Singh also handled Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division in MEA headquarters and served twice in Moscow in his 34-year career. Diplomatic affairs experts point to the fact that Singh by virtue of serving for half-adecade in Washington is well suited for the top job.